Association of allium vegetables intake and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease risk: A case-control study
ISSN: 0034-6659
Article publication date: 7 February 2020
Issue publication date: 28 October 2020
Abstract
Purpose
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of liver disease worldwide. The purpose of this study is to assess the possible association between habitual intake of allium vegetables and NAFLD risk.
Design/methodology/approach
In this study, 196 cases of NAFLD and 803 age-matched controls were enrolled from the same clinic. Dietary intakes were assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Consumption of allium vegetables, including raw garlic and onions, were calculated and considered as grams/day in all participants.
Findings
Participants in the highest tertile of allium vegetable intake had 64% lower risk of NAFLD compared with those in the lowest tertile of the allium vegetables intake (odds ratio [OR]: 0.35; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.23-0.51; p < 0.001). After controlling for potential confounders, there was no significant change in this inverse association (OR: 0.36; 95% CI: 0.22-0.56; p < 0.001).
Originality/value
This study for the first time showed that higher consumption of allium vegetables was associated with lower risk of NAFLD. The results did not change when the authors adjusted the analysis for the known risk factors of the disease, which indicate the independency of the association.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This study is related to the Project No. 1397/68645 from Student Research Committee, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. We also appreciate the “Student Research Committee” and “Research and Technology Chancellor” of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences for their financial support to this study.
Disclosure statement: The authors report no conflict of interest.
Authors’ contribution: H.E. and A.H. conceptualized the study, collected the data and wrote the manuscript. H.F., H.T., H.P and A.S.T. analyzed the data and contributed to the drafting of the manuscript. All authors approved the final version of the manuscript.
Citation
Emamat, H., Farhadnejad, H., Tangestani, H., Saneei Totmaj, A., Poustchi, H. and Hekmatdoost, A. (2020), "Association of allium vegetables intake and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease risk: A case-control study", Nutrition & Food Science, Vol. 50 No. 6, pp. 1075-1083. https://doi.org/10.1108/NFS-11-2019-0334
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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