Traditional Japanese diet may prevent risk of liver fibrosis

2023-04-27 06:30:06

According to Health Insurance figures, 16.7% of the population present non-alcoholic steatosis. This disease is characterized by an accumulation of fat in the liver, apart from any excessive consumption of alcohol.

If Japanese cuisine has been included in the intangible cultural heritage of UNESCO, it would also have another interest. According to a recent study published in the journal Nutrients, this diet could reduce the risk of progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease to liver fibrosis.

In this study, scientists from Osaka Metropolitan University (Japan) used a scoring system called modified 12-component Japanese diet index (mJDI12). In detail, this diet includes 12 foods and food groups: rice, miso soup, pickles, soy products, green and yellow vegetables, fruits, seafood, mushrooms, seaweed, green tea, coffee, beef and pork. All scores range from 0 to 12, with higher scores indicating a diet consistent with the Japanese dietary pattern.

Higher muscle mass

A research group analyzed the relationship between meals assessed by the mJDI12 index, muscle mass and the progression of liver fibrosis in 136 patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Results ? The group with the highest mJDI12 showed a lower degree of liver fibrosis progression. Another finding of the researchers, a high consumption of soy products, seafood and seaweed can reduce the risk of progression to liver fibrosis. Additionally, the group with higher consumption of soy products had higher muscle mass.

“This study indicates that the Japanese diet may be effective as dietary treatment for patients with fatty liver disease. We hope that further intervention studies will lead to the establishment of an effective diet for these patients,” Professor Matsumoto concluded in the study release.

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