Abstract
BACKGROUND This observational cross-sectional study was designed to explore the effects of a low-carbohydrate diet (LCD) and a low-fat diet (LFD) on metabolic-dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). METHODS This study involved 3961 adults. The associations between LCD/LFD scores and MAFLD were evaluated utilizing a multivariable logistic regression model. Additionally, a leave-one-out model was applied to assess the effect of isocaloric substitution of specific macronutrients. RESULTS Participants within the highest tertile of healthy LCD scores (0.63; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.45-0.89) or with a healthy LFD score (0.64; 95%CI, 0.48-0.86) faced a lower MAFLD risk. Furthermore, compared with tertile 1, individuals with unhealthy LFD scores in terile 2 or tertile 3 had 49% (95%CI, 1.17-1.90) and 77% (95%CI, 1.19-2.63) higher risk levels for MAFLD, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Healthy LCD and healthy LFD are protective against MAFLD, while unhealthy LFD can increase the risk of MAFLD. Both the quantity and quality of macronutrients might have significant influences on MAFLD.
