Association between Dietary Fatty Acid Intake and Liver Steatosis and Fibrosis in a Sample of Mexican-Origin Hispanic Adults with Overweight or Obesity

Melissa Lopez-Pentecost (), Brian Hallmark, Cynthia A. Thomson, Floyd Chilton and David O. Garcia
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Melissa Lopez-Pentecost: Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
Brian Hallmark: The BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
Cynthia A. Thomson: Department of Health Promotion Sciences Tucson, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
Floyd Chilton: The BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
David O. Garcia: Department of Health Promotion Sciences Tucson, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 4, 1-11

Abstract: Rates of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) vary dramatically among Hispanic subpopulations, with Mexican-origin (MO) Hispanics experiencing a disproportionate burden. This study examined dietary fatty acid (FA) intake among overweight and obese MO Hispanic adults in the United States (US) and evaluated its association with liver steatosis and fibrosis. Participants (N = 285, MO Hispanic adults) completed 24-h dietary recalls to assess dietary FA exposure. Liver steatosis and fibrosis were estimated using transient elastography (FibroScan ® ). Multiple regression analysis tested relationships between FA intakes and liver steatosis or fibrosis, adjusting for age, sex, body mass index (BMI) and total energy. A total of 51% (n = 145) of participants were suspected to have NAFLD and 20% self-reported a type 2 diabetes diagnosis. No significant association was observed between Linoleic Acid and α-Linolenic Acid (LA:ALA) ratio, or omega-6 to omega-3 (n-6:n-3) ratio and liver steatosis. However, a one-point increase in the LA:ALA ratio resulted in a 1.01% increase in the liver fibrosis scores (95% CI: [1.00, 1.03]; p = 0.03), and a one-point increase in the n-6:n-3 ratio resulted in a 1.02% increase in liver fibrosis score (95% CI: [1.01, 1.03]; p = 0.01). Further research is needed to determine if modulation of FA intake could reduce NAFLD risk in this high-risk population.

Keywords: fatty acid; steatosis; fibrosis; NAFLD; Mexican-origin Hispanics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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