Comparative analysis of dietary patterns in patients with different body weight and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Objective. To assess dietary patterns in outpatients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and normal weight versus those who are overweight. Materials and methods. The study included 72 outpatients (30 male and 42 female) with a mean age of 47.0 ± 1.7 and a verified NAFLD diagnosis. Of these, 41 patients had normal body weight and 31 was overweight. Anthropometric measurements were performed, and dietary intake was assessed using a 7–10-day FatSecret food diary. Further analysis included average daily energy intake (kcal), the proportion of proteins/fats/carbohydrates (PFC) (%), calculation of PFC in g/kg/day, assessment of meal quantity, composition, timing, and identification of dietary patterns. Results. The nutritional assessment revealed that overweight individuals with NAFLD consumed significantly more kilocalories (p = 0.029), protein (p 0.001), and carbohydrates (p = 0.029) per day than patients with normal weight. The diet of overweight NAFLD patients was characterized by significantly higher intake of animal protein, saturated fats, and simple carbohydrates, while consumption of plant-based proteins was lower. Three main dietary patterns were identified: high-fat (46 %), high-protein (25 %), and mixed fat-carbohydrate (15 %), along with two less common patterns: fat-carbohydrate (7 %) and deficient (7 %). The predominant pattern in both groups was high-fat, accounting for 54 % in the normal weight group and 35 % in the overweight group. Conclusions. For NAFLD patients in the Perm region, especially those who are overweight, a "Western" dietary style is more characteristic. This pattern is enriched with animal proteins (including red and processed meat), refined grains, potatoes, and sweetened beverages, and is deficient in fish, seafood, greens, vegetables, and plant-based proteins.