Association between the consumption of dairy products and the clinical characteristics of partients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Aim: To explore potential associations between the consumption of dairy products and the clinical characteristics of patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Materials-Methods: Seventy-three adult patients with recent NAFLD diagnosis were included. Medical history, anthropometric data, physical activity level, body composition analysis and several biochemical markers were estimated. Dairy products consumption and their subcategories (i.e. full-fat or low-fat and milk, yoghurt, cheese) was estimated through a food frequency questionnaire. Liver stiffness measurements by transient elastography were available in 58 patients and liver biopsies in 34 patients.

Results: The consumption of full-fat dairy products was positively correlated to patients’ abdominal fat level (rho=0.258, p=0.030), insulin resistance index HOMA-IR (rho=0.273, p=0.021) and liver stiffness (rho=0.323, p=0.014) and negatively to serum HDL (rho=-0.274, p=0.021) and adiponectin levels (rho=-0.436, p<0.001). Multiple analysis revealed a negative association between the consumption of low-fat dairy products and the HOMA-IR index (β= 0.91, 95%CI: 0.85-0.97, p=0.005), after adjusting for several potential confounders. Regarding the types of dairy products, the consumption of full-fat milk was positively correlated to serum triglyceride levels (rho=0.267, p=0.02) and negatively to serum adiponectin levels (rho=-0.230, p=0.05). However, no associations were observed between the consumption of dairy products or their subcategories and the likelihood of having steatohepatitis. Conclusions: The consumption of low-fat dairy products was negatively correlated to the insulin resistance index in patients with NAFLD, while generally the consumption of dairy products was not associated with the stage of the disease.