Sleep disruption in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: What is the role of lifestyle and diet?

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and sleep disorders

Studies have shown that non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) may be associated with sleep disorders. In order to explore the explicit relationship between the two, we systematically reviewed the effects of sleep disorders, especially obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), on the incidence of NAFLD, and analyzed the possible mechanisms after adjusting for confounding factors. NAFLD is independently associated with sleep disorders. Different sleep disorders may be the cause of the onset and aggravation of NAFLD. An excessive or insufficient sleep duration, poor sleep quality, insomnia, sleep-wake disorders, and OSA may increase the incidence of NAFLD. Despite that some research suggests a unidirectional causal link between the two, specifically, the onset of NAFLD is identified as a result of changes in sleep characteristics, and the reverse relationship does not hold true. Nevertheless, there is still a lack of specific research elucidating the reasons behind the higher risk of developing sleep disorders in individuals with NAFLD. Further research is needed to establish a clear relationship between NAFLD and sleep disorders. This will lay the groundwork for earlier identification of potential patients, which is crucial for earlier monitoring, diagnosis, effective prevention, and treatment of NAFLD.

Interaction between dietary flavonoid intake and trouble sleeping on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease risk: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

The possible interaction of dietary flavonoid intake and sleep on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has not been well studied. This study investigated the interaction between dietary flavonoid intake and trouble sleeping on the risk of NAFLD.

METHODS

Three discrete National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data cycles from 2007 to 2010 and 2017 to 2018 were used. NAFLD was diagnosed by a US Fatty Liver Index ≥30. A sleep questionnaire diagnosed trouble sleeping. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression, restricted cubic spline (RCS) and subgroup analyses were used to evaluate the association between dietary flavonoids, trouble sleeping and NAFLD. We employed the relative excess risk due to interaction, attributable proportion of interaction and synergy index to evaluate additive interactions.

RESULTS

Ultimately, 5056 participants were enrolled, and higher anthocyanidins and flavanones intake was negatively correlated with NAFLD. Conversely, trouble sleeping was positively associated with NAFLD. These correlations remained stable after adjusting for confounders, and there was a sex difference in this relationship. In the RCS model, anthocyanins were negatively non-linearly related to NAFLD, while flavanones showed a negative linear relationship. Moreover, there was a synergistic interplay between low dietary anthocyanin intake and trouble sleeping on the risk of NAFLD. A similar relationship existed for flavanone intake.

CONCLUSION

Anthocyanin and flavanone intake were negatively associated, whereas trouble sleeping was positively associated with NAFLD risk. There was a synergistic effect of low anthocyanin intake and trouble sleeping. The same relationship existed for low flavanone intake.

Low Health Literacy, Lack of Knowledge, and Self-Control Hinder Healthy Lifestyles in Diverse Patients with Steatotic Liver Disease

INTRODUCTION

In parallel with the obesity and diabetes epidemics, steatotic liver disease (SLD) has emerged as a major global public health concern. The mainstay of therapy is counseling on weight loss and increased exercise. However, such lifestyle modifications infrequently lead to success. We aimed to identify barriers to diet and lifestyle modification in patients with SLD.

METHODS

Patients with SLD completed a 14-item questionnaire that assigned barriers to healthy eating to three categories: lack of knowledge, lack of self-control, and lack of time, with a higher summary score indicating more perceived barriers. We administered assessments of health literacy and physical activity. We analyzed the data using descriptive statistics and ordinal regression analysis.

RESULTS

We included 151 participants with a median age of 64; 54% were female and 68.2% were Hispanic. Median BMI was 31.9 kg/m2. Most respondents, 68.2%, had low health literacy and were either underactive, 29.1% or sedentary, 23.2%. Lack of self-control was the strongest barrier to achieving a healthy lifestyle, followed by lack of knowledge. Lack of time was not significant barrier. Patients with the most significant barriers were more likely to have obesity, low health literacy, and be sedentary.

DISCUSSION

Lack of self-control and knowledge are the greatest barriers to adopting a healthy lifestyle in patients with SLD. Future clinical interventions should integrate education that targets various health literacy levels with behavioral approaches to improve a sense of agency.

Higher frequency of fish intake and healthy lifestyle behaviors may be associated with a lower platelet count in Japan: Implication for the anti-atherosclerotic effect of fish intake

BACKGROUND

Habitual fish intake and healthier lifestyles are associated with a lower risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Higher platelet counts (PLCs) are reportedly associated with higher ASCVD events. We aimed to investigate the association between fish intake and lifestyle with PLCs.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study in a cohort of 9329 participants (average age: 46.9 ± 12.9 years; 58.9% men) with no history of ASCVD registered at the Health Planning Center of Nihon University Hospital in 2019.

RESULTS

The average fish intake frequency was 2.15 ± 1.28 days/week. As fish intake frequency increased (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 days), PLC decreased significantly (p < 0.0001). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that higher fish intake frequency tended to be a determinant of lower PLC. Aerobic exercise habits and sleep duration were independent negative determinants of PLC. Cigarette smoking habits were a positive independent determinant of PLC. Furthermore, with increasing fish intake frequency, the proportion of participants with habitual aerobic exercise, non-smoking habits, and longer sleep duration increased (p < 0.0001 for all). Higher n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 PUFA), calculated based on data from the Japanese National Health and Nutrition Survey, intake was associated with a lower PLC.

CONCLUSION

Higher fish intake and healthier lifestyle behaviors may be comprehensively associated with lower PLCs. The intake of N-3 PUFA with anti-inflammatory effects, rich in fish, may also be related to the lower PLC. This association may explain the preventive effects of fish intake on ASCVD risk.

Impact of Chronotype and Mediterranean Diet on the Risk of Liver Fibrosis in Patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Late chronotype, the individual's aptitude to perform daily activities late in the day, has been associated with low adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) and metabolic syndrome. The aim of this work was to investigate the potential association of chronotype and adherence to the MedDiet with the liver fibrosis risk in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Liver stiffness was assessed in 126 patients by FibroScan^®530. Significant (F ≥ 2) and advanced (F ≥ 3) hepatic fibrosis were defined according to liver stiffness values ≥7.1 kPa and ≥8.8 kPa, respectively. Chronotype (MSFsc) was defined by the Munich Chronotype Questionnaire, and adherence to the MedDiet was defined by the Mediterranean diet score (MDS). Overall, the median age was 55 (46-63) years, and 57.9% of participants were male. The principal comorbidities were type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) (26.1%), arterial hypertension (53.1%), dyslipidaemia (63.4%), obstructive sleep apnoea (5.5%) and depression (5.5%). Most subjects (65.0%) had intermediate + late chronotype and showed higher mid-sleep on workdays (p < 0.001) and on work-free days (p < 0.001) compared to those with early chronotype. In the logistic regression model, intermediate + late chronotype (p = 0.024), MDS (p = 0.019) and T2DM (p = 0.004) were found to be significantly and independently associated with the risk of both F ≥ 2 And F ≥ 3. We observed that the intermediate + late chronotype and low adherence to the MedDiet were associated with both significant and advanced liver fibrosis in patients with NAFLD.

Investigating the Association Between Seven Sleep Traits and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Observational and Mendelian Randomization Study

Background and Aim: Aberrant sleep parameters are associated with the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, existing information is inconsistent among studies and involves reverse causation. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the observational associations and causations between sleep traits and NAFLD. Methods: We performed multivariable regression to assess observational associations of seven sleep traits (sleep duration, easiness of getting up in the morning, chronotype, nap during day, snoring, insomnia, and narcolepsy), and NAFLD in the UK Biobank (1,029 NAFLD). The Cox proportional hazards model was applied to derive hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Furthermore, a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) approach was used to explore the causal relationships between sleep traits and NAFLD. Results: In the multivariable regression model adjusted for potential confounders, getting up in the morning not at all easy (HR, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.27-1.78) and usually insomnia (HR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.21-1.75) were associated with the risk of NAFLD. Furthermore, the easiness of getting up in the morning and insomnia showed a dose-response association with NAFLD (P_trend <0.05). MR analysis found consistent causal effects of NAFLD on easiness of getting up in the morning (OR, 0.995; 95% CI, 0.990-0.999; p = 0.033) and insomnia (OR, 1.006; 95% CI, 1.001-1.011; p = 0.024). These results were robust to weak instrument bias, pleiotropy, and heterogeneity. Conclusions: Findings showed consistent evidence of observational analyses and MR analyses that trouble getting up in the morning and insomnia were associated with an increased risk of NAFLD. Bidirectional MR demonstrated causal effects of NAFLD on sleep traits.