Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, association with cardiovascular disease and treatment. (I). Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and its association with cardiovascular disease

The Effects of Olive Oil Consumption on Biochemical Parameters and Body Mass Index of People with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the most common chronic liver disorder, is closely associated with insulin resistance, obesity, and metabolic syndromes. A body of research has proposed that olive oil, a basic component of the Mediterranean diet with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, may alleviate metabolic disturbances and retard the progression of NAFLD. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the effectiveness of olive oil intake in people with NAFLD. We systematically searched the major electronic databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials), as well as grey literature sources, to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effects of olive oil consumption on biochemical and anthropometric parameters of individuals with NAFLD. The quality of the studies was evaluated using the risk-of-bias tool 2.0 (RoB 2). The mean difference (MD) and the 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using fixed-effects and random-effects models. Seven RCTs involving 515 subjects were included in the analysis. In the random-effects model, no statistically significant differences were identified with respect to alanine transaminase (MD = -1.83 IU/L, 95% CI: -5.85, 2.19 IU/L, p = 0.37, I2 = 69%) and aspartate transaminase (MD = -1.65 IU/L, 95% CI: -4.48, 1.17 IU/L, p = 0.25, I2 = 72%) levels or waist circumference values (MD = -0.23 cm, 95% CI: -1.23, 0.76 cm, p = 0.65, I2 = 0%). However, a significant effect on body mass index was observed (MD = -0.57 kg/m2, 95% CI: -1.08, -0.06 kg/m2, p = 0.03, I2 = 51%) for subjects who received olive oil compared to those who received an alternative diet or placebo. The findings of the present meta-analysis suggest a modestly positive impact of olive oil intake on body weight in people with NAFLD.

Body Composition Profiling in the UK Biobank Imaging Study

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the value of imaging-based multivariable body composition profiling by describing its association with coronary heart disease (CHD), type 2 diabetes (T2D), and metabolic health on individual and population levels.

METHODS

The first 6,021 participants scanned by UK Biobank were included. Body composition profiles (BCPs) were calculated, including abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue, visceral adipose tissue (VAT), thigh muscle volume, liver fat, and muscle fat infiltration (MFI), determined using magnetic resonance imaging. Associations between BCP and metabolic status were investigated using matching procedures and multivariable statistical modeling.

RESULTS

Matched control analysis showed that higher VAT and MFI were associated with CHD and T2D (P < 0.001). Higher liver fat was associated with T2D (P < 0.001) and lower liver fat with CHD (P < 0.05), matching on VAT. Multivariable modeling showed that lower VAT and MFI were associated with metabolic health (P < 0.001), and liver fat was nonsignificant. Associations remained significant adjusting for sex, age, BMI, alcohol, smoking, and physical activity.

CONCLUSIONS

Body composition profiling enabled an intuitive visualization of body composition and showed the complexity of associations between fat distribution and metabolic status, stressing the importance of a multivariable approach. Different diseases were linked to different BCPs, which could not be described by a single fat compartment alone.