Diet high in animal protein is associated with NAFLD in overweight people
NAFLD is a major health concern, because it can lead to permanent scarring (cirrhosis) and subsequently to cancer and malfunction of the liver.1 This may result in life-threatening complications for which a liver transplant is needed. Additionally, NAFLD also contributes to an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases such as diabetes mellitus and atherosclerosis. NAFLD is diagnosed when accumulation of fat in the organ exceeds 5% of hepatocytes (the cells that make up the majority of the liver). It is estimated that approximately 1 billion people worldwide may have NAFLD with a prevalence of 20-30% in Western countries. It parallels one of world's most rapidly growing health concerns, obesity, which is also one of the most important risk factors in NAFLD. In its early stages NAFLD can be treated through diet and lifestyle changes, such as weight loss, but it can progress to more serious liver diseases. However, there is still a lot of debate whether weight loss alone is enough t...