Dietary sodium intake in relation to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease risk: a case-control study
ISSN: 0034-6659
Article publication date: 22 July 2020
Issue publication date: 6 May 2021
Abstract
Purpose
Data on relationship between dietary intake of sodium and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) risk are scarce. This paper aims to find the possible association between sodium intake and NAFLD.
Design/methodology/approach
This is a case-control study on NAFLD patients proven by a gastroenterologist using Fibroscan, and age-matched controls. Dietary intakes were assessed using a valid and reliable food frequency questionnaire.
Findings
In the multivariable-adjusted model, after adjustment for potential confounding variables, participants in the highest tertile of sodium intake had a greater risk of developing NAFLD (OR= 2.42; 95% CI: 1.13–5.15) compared to those in the lowest tertile of sodium intake (p-value = 0.023). In sub-analysis, subjects with BMI ≥ 25 in the third tertile of sodium intake had higher risk of NAFLD compared to those in the lowest tertile of sodium intake [(OR: 3.95; 95% CI: 1.75–8.90), (p-value = 0.001)]. However, no significant association was found between tertiles of energy-adjusted daily sodium intake and NAFLD prevalence risk in participants with BMI < 25.
Originality/value
The findings revealed that higher sodium intake is related with a higher prevalence of NAFLD, an association that can be partly mediated through obesity.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Funding: This study is related to the project NO. 1398/10122 From the Student Research Committee, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (SBMU), Tehran, Iran.
This study is related to the project NO. 1398/10122 From the Student Research Committee, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (SBMU), Tehran, Iran. We also appreciate the Student Research Committee and Research and Technology Chancellor in SBMU for their financial support of this study.
Author contribution: H.E. and H.F. conceptualized the study, collected the data and wrote the manuscript. H.E. and H.T. and M.M. analyzed the data and contributed to drafting of the manuscript. A.H and P.M supervised the study. All authors approved the final version of the manuscript.
Conflict of interest: The authors declared that there is no conflict of interest.
Ethical approval: The study protocol was approved by the ethics committee of the Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (Ethical Code: IR.SBMU.RETECH.REC.1398.276).
Citation
Emamat, H., Farhadnejad, H., Movahedian, M., Tangestani, H., Mirmiran, P. and Hekmatdoost, A. (2021), "Dietary sodium intake in relation to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease risk: a case-control study", Nutrition & Food Science, Vol. 51 No. 3, pp. 541-550. https://doi.org/10.1108/NFS-05-2020-0183
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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