The Brazilian traditional dietary pattern was associated with a lower risk of advanced steatosis in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease

Identifying dietary patterns in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is critical, since nutrition is a modifiable risk factor that contributes to the etiology and progression of the disease. This study evaluated the association between dietary patterns and lipid and glycemic profiles, liver biomarkers, and degrees of steatosis and fibrosis in patients with MASLD. In this cross-sectional study, 70 patients who completed the entire dietary assessment were included in the analyses. Dietary intake was assessed through 24-hour dietary recalls, and 4 dietary patterns were identified by exploratory factor analysis and principal component analysis. Mean scores were analyzed by sex, age group, and nutritional status, and associations with main outcomes were tested by binomial logistic regression, with significance set at P > .05. There was greater adherence to the prudent pattern among men (95% CI 2.1-2.84), which consisted of fresh fruits and fruit juices, whole grains and breads, eggs and egg-based preparations, and coffee and tea, and a lower chance of advanced steatosis in individuals with greater adherence to the traditional Brazilian pattern (OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.20-0.97). This pattern, based on minimally processed foods rich in fiber, bioactive compounds, and antioxidants, was shown to be protective against advanced steatosis.