Legume intake and risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Background It is known that diet plays a pivotal role in thepathogenesis and management of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD); however, the knowledge on the role of different food groups such as legumes is not enough. Methods We designed this study to assess the relationship between legume intake and risk of NAFLD in framework of a case-control study among Tehrani adults. One hundred and ninety-six newly diagnosed patients with NAFLD and 803 controls were studied, and their dietary intake was assessed using a valid and reliable food frequency questionnaire. Conditional logistic regression was used to determine the odds ratio (OR) of NAFLD per increase of one serving/week dietary legumes, lentil, and beans adjusting for potential confounders. Results In energy-adjusted model, greater intake of legumes, lentils, and beans was associated with a lower risk of NAFLD. These risk associations remained significant after adjusting for all known risk factors of NAFLD. OR of NAFLD in adjusted models for higher dietary intake of legumes, lentils, and beans were 0.73 (0.64-0.84), 0.61 (0.46-0.78), and 0.35 (0.17-0.74), respectively. Conclusion Our findings suggest that higher intake of total legumes (beans, lentils, and peas) was associated with lower risk of NAFLD.