Conclusions In the context of low SFAs , high-MUFA diets in isocaloric substitution for high-CHO diets did not affect blood pressure in individuals with and without hypertension .
Context Current dietary guidelines for cardiovascular disease risk management recommend restricting intake of saturated fatty acids ( SFAs ) .
However , the optimal macronutrient profile , in the context of a low-SFA diet , remains controversial .
The blood-pressure effect of replacing SFAs in diets with monounsaturated fatty acids ( MUFAs ) compared with carbohydrate has not been quantified to date .
The Mediterranean diet improves hepatic steatosis and insulin sensitivity in individuals with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
BACKGROUND & AIMS Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease ( NAFLD ) affects up to 30 % of the population and signifies increased risk of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis , type 2 diabetes , and cardiovascular disease . Therapies are limited . Weight loss is of benefit but is difficult to maintain . We aim ed at examining the effect of the Mediterranean diet ( MD ) , a diet high in monounsaturated fatty acids , on steatosis and insulin sensitivity , using gold st and ard techniques . METHODS Twelve non-diabetic subjects ( 6 Females/6 Males ) with biopsy-proven NAFLD were recruited for a r and omised , cross-over 6-week dietary intervention study . All subjects undertook both the MD and a control diet , a low fat-high carbohydrate diet ( LF/HCD ) , in r and om order with a 6-week wash-out period in- between . Insulin sensitivity was determined with a 3-h hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp study and hepatic steatosis was assessed with localized magnetic resonance (1)H spectroscopy ( (1)H-MRS ) . RESULTS At baseline , subjects were abdominally obese with elevated fasting concentrations of glucose , insulin , triglycerides , ALT , and GGT . Insulin sensitivity at baseline was low ( M=2.7 ± 1.0 mg/kg/min(-1 ) ) . Mean weight loss was not different between the two diets ( p=0.22 ) . There was a significant relative reduction in hepatic steatosis after the MD compared with the LF/HCD : 39 ± 4 % versus 7 ± 3 % , as measured by (1)H-MRS ( p=0.012 ) . Insulin sensitivity improved with the MD , whereas after the LF/HCD there was no change ( p=0.03 between diets ) . CONCLUSIONS Even without weight loss , MD reduces liver steatosis and improves insulin sensitivity in an insulin-resistant population with NAFLD , compared to current dietary advice . This diet should be further investigated in subjects with NAFLD
Conclusions In the context of low SFAs , high-MUFA diets in isocaloric substitution for high-CHO diets did not affect blood pressure in individuals with and without hypertension .
Context Current dietary guidelines for cardiovascular disease risk management recommend restricting intake of saturated fatty acids ( SFAs ) .
However , the optimal macronutrient profile , in the context of a low-SFA diet , remains controversial .
The blood-pressure effect of replacing SFAs in diets with monounsaturated fatty acids ( MUFAs ) compared with carbohydrate has not been quantified to date .