Study: Mediterranean Diet May Help Reduce Risk of NAFLD

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Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common disease often found in children who also deal with obesity, and is the most common chronic liver disease in children in the U.S.

According to numerous adult studies on NAFLD, genetic and environmental factors are the major responsible triggers for the development and progression of NAFLD. Diets like the Mediterranean diet that is rich in fruits, complex carbs, vegetables, nuts, and olive oil has been associated in various studies to help prevent obesity and overweight related risks of NAFLD.

Population-based studies over the last decade have shown that people who commonly consume diets like the Mediterranean diet (MD) show lower risks of cardiovascular diseases, metabolic disorders, and several types of cancers.

In this new study on children consuming this diet, researchers found that this diet can benefit children with NAFLD, and also help increase health benefits for children do not have NAFLD but may be overweight or prone to NAFLD.

The study concludes that the Mediterranean diet is an inexpensive and nontoxic dietary regimen and that may be used as a therapeutic option in children with NAFLD and suggests that medical doctors become educated about the content of these diets and show the how the beneficial effects on health will increase for children who consume this type of diet.

More is needed to be done to confirm these conclusions as physical activity was not accounted for in this research.

To read the full study, click here.