Abstract

Purpose Recent evidence suggests that adherence to dietary approaches to stop hypertension (DASH) diet can be effective in managing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We investigated the effect of DASH diet on hepatic fibrosis, steatosis and liver enzymes in patients with NAFLD.Methods This 12-week randomized controlled trial was conducted among seventy patients with NAFLD who were randomly assigned into two groups including intervention group (DASH diet containing 50-55 carbohydrate, 15-20 protein, and 30 total fat) and the control group (a healthy diet containing 50-55 carbohydrate, 15-20 protein, and 30 total fat). Both diets were calorie-restricted (500-700 kcal lower than the energy requirement). The primary outcomes included hepatic fibrosis, hepatic steatosis, alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT).Results At the baseline, there was no significant difference between two groups in the level of hepatic fibrosis (P = 0.63), hepatic steatosis (P = 0.53), ALT (P = 0.93), AST (P = 0.18) and GGT (P = 0.76). A significant reduction was found in the intervention group compared to the control group in hepatic fibrosis (23 grades reduction vs. 7 grades reduction; P = 0.008) and hepatic steatosis (31 grades reduction vs. 9 grades reduction; P = 0.03) after intervention. In addition, a significant change was observed in the intervention group compared to control group in ALT ( - 8.50 +/- 8.98 vs. - 2.09 +/- 7.29; P = 0.002), and AST ( - 5.79 +/- 6.83 vs. - 0.51 +/- 6.62; P = 0.002).Conclusions Adherence to DASH diet may be effective in management of NAFLD.