Lower liver stiffness with diet
- Published in
- Clin Nutr 2022
- People studied
- 3,037
In 26 studies with 3,037 adults with fatty liver, calorie-reduced and Mediterranean diets lowered liver enzymes, liver fat and liver stiffness.
- Checked against
- PubMed 35947894
- Published in
- Clin Nutr 2022
- Last checked
- 30 October 2026
Key takeaway
This review pooled 26 studies with 3,037 adults with fatty liver that tested calorie-reduced diets or a Mediterranean diet. Taken together, the diets lowered liver enzymes, liver fat and liver stiffness. The more calories were cut, the larger the gains in liver tests and weight.
At a glance
- Type of study
- review pooling randomised and non-randomised controlled trials (meta-analysis)
- People studied
- 3,037
- Compared with
- control groups in the included trials
- Main result
- Diets lowered liver enzymes, liver fat and liver stiffness.
- Strength of evidence
- Long-term or observational studies
What this study does not show
The studies differed a lot in how they ran the diets and measured the liver, and not all were randomised. The abstract does not give the size of the changes, only that they were statistically clear.
Results from studies in groups of people, mostly in diet and movement programmes. They cannot be promised to any one person. This information is educational and does not replace a consultation with a doctor.
More on liver
- Less liver inflammationSmall or uncontrolled studies · Vilar-Gomez et al., Gastroenterology 2015
- Better liver biopsy resultsSmall or uncontrolled studies · Promrat et al., Hepatology 2010
- Less liver fatSmall or uncontrolled studies · Lazo et al., Diabetes Care 2010
- Remission of fatty liverRandomised trials · Wong et al., J Hepatol 2013
- Fatty liver can go awayLong-term or observational studies · Zelber-Sagi et al., J Hepatol 2012
- Less liver fat with exerciseRandomised trials · Katsagoni et al., Metabolism 2017
- Lower liver stiffness with dietLong-term or observational studies · Haigh et al., Clin Nutr 2022
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