A study conducted by the researchers of the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev has found that a green Mediterranean (MED) diet cuts non-alcoholic fatty liver disease by 50% and reduces intrahepatic fat.
The study was published in a leading international journal Gut.
Lead researcher and epidemiologist Prof. Iris Shai said, “Our research team and other groups over the past 20 years have proven through rigorous randomized long-term trials that the Mediterranean diet is the healthiest.”
“Now, we have refined that diet and discovered elements that can make dramatic changes to hepatic fat and other key health factors,” she added.
Other researchers of the study include Prof. Meir Stampfer and Prof. Frank Hu.
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease affects 25% to 30% of people in the United States and Europe. Some fat in the liver is normal, but too much fat (5% or higher) leads to type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, cardiovascular risk, and decreased gut microbiome diversity with microbial imbalance.
There is no specific drug available for treating fatty liver disease. The only intervention is losing weight and limiting alcohol consumption.
The new green MED diet is rich in vegetables, includes a daily intake of walnuts (28 grams), with less processed and red meat. As the name suggests, the diet is enriched with green components, high in polyphenols, including green tea and Mankai green shake.
Mankai, also known as duckweed, is an aquatic green plant that is high in bioavailable protein, iron, B12, vitamins, minerals, and polyphenols.
First author Dr. Anat Yaskolka said, “Addressing this common liver disease by targeted lifestyle intervention might promote a more effective nutritional strategy. This clinical trial demonstrates an effective nutritional tool for NAFLD beyond weight loss.”
The researchers found that the diet led to fat reduction in the liver. However, they found that the green MED diet resulted in the greatest reduction of fat in the liver hepatic fat than the traditional Mediterranean diet.
Overall, the green MED diet was found to produce dramatic reductions in fatty liver.
Specifically, the team found that consuming more Mankai and walnut and less red or processed meat was significantly associated with the loss of intrahepatic fat. Also, the participants who were on the green MED diet had significantly higher total plasma polyphenol levels. They explained that the effect of polyphenols and the reduction in red meat might have played a great role in liver fat reduction.
