Energy balance
Diet-induced weight loss of approximately 10% of body weight significantly improves hepatic steatosis, necroinflammation, and insulin resistance in patients with NAFLD/NASH, with histological improvement correlating with the magnitude of weight loss.
To improve your liver health, aim to lose about 10% of your current body weight through a caloric deficit. This can be achieved via low-fat or low-carbohydrate diets, as both show benefit. Consistency is key; even losing 5-7% helps, but 10% yields the best histological improvements. Combine this with moderate exercise (like walking 40 minutes, 3-4 times a week) for synergistic benefits on insulin sensitivity and visceral fat.
Taken together, these data demonstrate that diet-induced weight loss approaching 10% of body weight is efficacious in improving the metabolic parameters associated with NAFLD, including lipid profiles and insulin resistance, as well as serum aminotransferases, and, more importantly, the histopathological characteristics of NASH including steatosis and necroinflammation.
Why this rating
Evidence is derived from multiple small, uncontrolled pilot trials and some randomized controlled trials, but large prospective trials with histopathological endpoints are noted as lacking.
Source
Benefits of lifestyle modification in NAFLD
S.A. Harrison et al. · Gut · 2007
DOI 10.1136/gut.2006.112094
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