Macronutrient composition and its effect on body composition changes during weight loss therapy in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: Secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial.

Catarina Lindqvist, Magnus Holmer, Hannes Hagström, Sven Petersson, Veronika Tillander, Torkel B Brismar, Per Stål

Journal: Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.) 2023;110():111982

PMID: 36940624

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Plain Language Summary

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease worldwide and it is closely linked to overweight and obesity. Weight loss leads to an amelioration of NAFLD, which preferably should lead to loss of fat mass while maintaining lean body mass. The aim of this study was to examine if different diet compositions during weight loss therapy were associated with different reductions in abdominal fat mass compared with standard weight loss advice given by a physician. This study was a secondary analysis of data collected in an open-label, randomised controlled trial. The trial examined the effect of two popular weight loss diets, calorie-restricted intermittent fasting (5:2) and a calorie-restricted low-carbohydrate high-fat (LCHF) diet, compared with standard of care (SOC) on reduction in liver fat in 74 persons with NAFLD. Results show that a dietitian-led nutrition counselling treatment with an LCHF or 5:2 diet reduced weight to a higher extent than physician-supported SOC during a 12-wk treatment. Improvements in most of the variables related to body composition parameters and metabolic function were found, independent of dietary composition. Furthermore, during weight loss, visceral fat was mobilized to a greater extent than subcutaneous fat. Authors conclude that further studies are needed with a focus on the effect of diet composition on body composition changes during weight loss.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES

Dietary composition may affect body composition during weight loss therapy. We tested the hypothesis of whether dietary macronutrient composition influences the reduction of total abdominal adipose tissue, subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), or visceral adipose tissue (VAT) during weight loss.

METHODS

Dietary macronutrient composition and body composition were analyzed as a secondary outcome of a randomized controlled trial of 62 participants with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Patients were randomly assigned to a calorie-restricted intermittent fasting (5:2), calorie-restricted low-carbohydrate high-fat (LCHF), or healthy lifestyle advice (standard-of-care) diet in a 12-wk intervention phase. Dietary intake was assessed by self-reported 3-d food diaries and by characterization of total plasma fatty acid profile. Percentage of energy intake (E%) from different macronutrients was calculated. Body composition was assessed by magnetic resonance imaging and anthropometric measurements.

RESULTS

The macronutrient composition differed significantly between the 5:2 (fat 36 E% and carbohydrates 43 E%) and the LCHF (fat 69 E% and carbohydrates 9 E%) groups (P < 0.001). Weight loss was similar in the 5:2 and LCHF groups (-7.2 [SD = 3.4] kg versus 8.0 [SD = 4.8] kg; P = 0.44) and significantly larger than for standard of care (-2.5 kg [SD = 2.3]; P < 0.001). The volume of total abdominal fat, adjusted for height, decreased on average by 4.7% (standard of care), 14.3% (5:2), and 17.7% (LCHF), with no significant differences between the 5:2 and LHCF groups (P = 0.32). VAT and SAT, adjusted for height, decreased on average by 17.1% and 12.7% for 5:2, respectively, and by 21.2% and 17.9% for LCHF, with no significant group differences (VAT [P = 0.16] and SAT [P = 0.10]). VAT was mobilized to a greater extent than SAT in all diets.

CONCLUSIONS

The 5:2 and LCHF diets had similar effects on changes in intraabdominal fat mass and anthropometrics during weight loss. This might indicate that overall weight loss is more important than diet composition to achieve changes in total abdominal adipose tissue, VAT, or SAT. The results of the present study suggest that there is a need for further studies on the effect of diet composition on body composition changes during weight loss therapy.

Address: Medical Unit Clinical Nutrition, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address: [email protected].; Division of Hepatology, Department of Upper Gastrointestinal Diseases and Surgical Oncology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.; Division of Hepatology, Department of Upper Gastrointestinal Diseases and Surgical Oncology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Department of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.; Division of Medical Imaging and Technology, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Medical Radiation Physics and Nuclear Medicine, Karolinska University, Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.; Division of Clinical Chemistry, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.; Division of Medical Imaging and Technology, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Radiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden.

DOI: 10.1016/j.nut.2023.111982