Faculty, Staff and Student Publications
Publication Date
3-1-2024
Journal
The American Journal of Gastroenterology
DOI
10.14309/ajg.0000000000002508
PMID
37737674
PMCID
PMC11001785
PubMedCentral® Posted Date
3-1-2025
PubMedCentral® Full Text Version
Author MSS
Abstract
Introduction: Diet is a modifiable metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) risk factor, but few studies have been conducted among Hispanic patients, despite the fact that MASLD prevalence and severity are highest among this ethnic subgroup. We aimed to identify prevalent dietary patterns among Hispanic patients using cluster analysis and to investigate associations with MASLD severity.
Methods: This cross-sectional analysis included 421 Harris County MASLD Cohort participants who self-reported Hispanic ethnicity and completed baseline food frequency questionnaires. All included patients had MASLD, diagnosed per standard clinical criteria. K-means analysis was used to identify clusters of patients sharing similar dietary habits. Multivariable adjusted logistic regression was used to estimate associations of dietary clusters with aminotransferases among the overall sample and with histologic steatosis, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, and fibrosis among a subsample of patients who underwent liver biopsy within 6 months of their baseline food frequency questionnaire (n = 186).
Results: We identified 2 clusters: a plant-food/prudent and a fast-food/meat pattern. The fast-food/meat pattern was associated with 2.47-fold increased odds (95% confidence interval 1.31-4.65) of more severe steatosis than the plant-food/prudent pattern after adjusting for demographics, metabolic score, physical activity, and alcohol ( q = 0.0159). No significant association was observed between diet and aminotransferases, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, or fibrosis.
Discussion: Given the importance of sociocultural influences on diet, it is important to understand dietary patterns prevalent among Hispanic patients with MASLD. Using cluster analysis, we identified 1 plant-based pattern vs 1 distinct fast-food/meat-based pattern associated with detrimental effects among our population. This information is an important starting point for tailoring dietary interventions for Hispanic patients with MASLD.
Keywords
Humans, Male, Female, Hispanic or Latino, Middle Aged, Cross-Sectional Studies, Cluster Analysis, Adult, Severity of Illness Index, Feeding Behavior, Risk Factors, Diet, Fatty Liver, Fast Foods, Surveys and Questionnaires, NAFLD, hepatic steatosis, dietary pattern, nutrition, diet, dietary cluster analysis
Published Open-Access
yes
Recommended Citation
Zhang, Xiaotao; Daniel, Carrie R; Soltero, Valeria; et al., "A Study of Dietary Patterns Derived by Cluster Analysis and Their Association With Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease Severity Among Hispanic Patients" (2024). Faculty, Staff and Student Publications. 4324.
https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/uthgsbs_docs/4324
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