Mediterranean Diet Treatment for NAFLD
Condition: Mediterranean Diet
MeSH terms: Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      Treatment for Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is through lifestyle modification
      consisting of caloric restriction and exercise, with an emphasis on weight loss.
      Unfortunately, the success and longevity of lifestyle changes that focus on weight loss, are
      poor in children. The dietary recommendation of calorie restriction alone may not be optimal
      in a pediatric population for multiple reasons including changes in hormonal milieu, growth
      velocity, and decreased bone mineral density that occur with significant weight loss.
      Mediterranean Diet (MD) is based on the high intake of extra virgin olive oil, vegetables,
      fruits, cereals, nuts and legumes; moderate intakes of fish and other meats, dairy products
      and red wine and low intakes of eggs and sweets. So, it provides a large amount of
      monounsaturated fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, vegetable proteins, fibre and
      antioxidants; and low amounts of sugar, cholesterol and saturated fats. It offers a lot of
      choice in food selection, and well tolerated, and many people can adhere to it over the long
      term. The investigators aimed to evaluate the effects of a MD vs. low fat diet on changes in
      hepatic steatosis, aminotransferases, and anthropometric measurements among obese children
      with NAFLD
    

Detailed description: 
      Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a disease caused by abnormal lipid accumulation
      in the liver without alcohol intake or other organic causes. NAFLD covers a range of liver
      diseases ranging from simple oil infiltration to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH),
      fibrosis and cirrhosis. The most important risk factor in the development of NAFLD is insulin
      resistance due to obesity. Insulin resistance increases hepatic steatosis and accumulation of
      hepatic fatty acids by increasing peripheral lipolysis and the entry of fatty acids into the
      liver. In parallel with the increased prevalence of childhood obesity, the occurrence of
      NAFLD is increasing among children. The risk that the NAFLD can turn into chronic liver
      disease increases the importance of the disease even more when children become adults
      Mediterranean Diet (MD) has gained popularity in scientific literature because it is one of
      the healthiest diets in the world.This diet is based on the high intake of extra virgin olive
      oil, vegetables, fruits, cereals, nuts and legumes; moderate intakes of fish and other meats,
      dairy products and red wine and low intakes of eggs and sweets. So, it provides a large
      amount of monounsaturated fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, vegetable proteins, fibre
      and antioxidants; and low amounts of sugar, cholesterol and saturated fats. MD is
      characterized as low-carbohydrate (40% of calories) and in contrast to low-fat diets, the MD
      includes fat as 40% of the diet. It offers a lot of choice in food selection, and well
      tolerated, and many people can adhere to it over the long term. There are a limited number of
      studies investigating the effectiveness of the MD in NAFLD treatment in different countries.
      However, there are no studies in the treatment of children with NAFLD in Turkey. The primary
      aims to this study is to evaluate the effects of a MD vs. low fat diet on changes in hepatic
      steatosis, aminotransferases, and anthropometric measurements among obese children with NAFLD
      in Turkey. The secondary aim to this study is to evaluate the effects of the both diets in
      insulin resistance.
    

Intervention name(s): Mediterranean Diet; Low Fat Diet
Intervention type(s): Behavioral; Behavioral
Intervention description(s): A list of foods high consumption of vegetables, fruits, non-refined cereals, legumes and potatoes, moderate consumption of fish and poultry and low consumption of full fat dairies, red meat and its products and homemade sweets.; These children are forbidden to eat high-fat foods such as fried foods, butter, cream cheese, while foods such as fruits, vegetables (starchy and non-starch), cereals, poultry, lean meat and low-fat dairy products are allowed.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Intervention model description: The study design was a single-blinded randomized, parallel assignment clinical trial of children with NAFLD was conducted. Participants were randomized in a 1:1 fashion to either 12-weeks of a Mediterranean diet or a low fat diet.
Masking: Single (Participant)
Primary purpose: Other
Keywords: Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; Mediterranean Diet; Low Fat Diet; Children