 Although diet can significantly influence intestinal permeability, clinical studies investigating the effects of dietary interventions on the intestinal permeability of NAFLD patients are lacking. The Mediterranean diet contains a high intake of mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids, fibres, polyphenols, antioxidants and phytochemicals; many of these components promote short-chain fatty acid-producing gut bacteria and have significant prebiotic effects. As such, we hypothesized a therapeutic effect of the Mediterranean diet for reducing impaired intestinal permeability in patients with NAFLD. 