The Association between Dietary Total Antioxidant Capacity and Risk of Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) in Adults: A Case-Control Study
Abstract ObjectiveDietary total antioxidant capacity (TAC) has been assumed as a useful tool to assess the relationship between the cumulative antioxidant food capacity and several chronic disorders. However, the relationship between the total antioxidant capacity of the diet (TAC) and the risk of NAFLD has not been previously examined. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between DTAC and risk of NAFLD in a case-control study.MethodsThis case-control study was carried out among 158 patients with NAFLD and 357 healthy subjects aged 18–55 years. Dietary data were collected using a validated 168- items quantitative food frequency questionnaire. DTAC was calculated based on the ferric reducing-antioxidant power (FRAP) values that reported by US Department of Agriculture.ResultsThe mean age and BMI of the study participants were 43.9 years and 30.5. The NAFLD patients had higher BMI and female’s percentage compared with controls. Also, compared with the control, the NAFLD cases have a higher level of Smoking, biochemical parameters, and DTAC score. Whereas, patients with NAFLD had a lower HDL and physical activity then the control groups. The highest tertiles of DTAC showed lower risk of NAFLD compared to the lowest tertiles. Also, this association was significant after controlling for potential confounders.ConclusionsOur findings showed that a high DTAC was associated with a reduced risk of NAFLD in adult, suggesting that promoting a naturally elevated antioxidant capacity might help prevent the development of NAFLD. Further prospective studies should be conducted in this regard.