ADHERENCE TO MEDITERRANEAN NUTRITION PATTERN IN PATIENTS WITH NON-ALCOHOLIC FATTY LIVER DISEASE: RELATIONSHIP WITH METABOLIC RISK FACTORS AND-UCP2-866G/A GENE POLYMORPHISMS

Abstract

The current study evaluated the association between major components of Mediterranean dietary regimen with metabolic biomarkers and uncoupling protein-2 (UCP2) -866G/A gene polymorphism in patients with non-alcoholic limy liver disease (NAFLD). In this study 75 patients with NAFLD and 76 healthy individuals were enrolled. Dietary intakes were assessed using a semi- quantitative food:frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and Mediterranean dietary quality index (Med-DQI) was calculated. Anthropometric assessments were performed; body mass index (BMI) and waist to hip ratio (WHR) were calculated. Biochemical assays including FSG (fasting serum glucose), liver enzymes and lipid profiles were measured. Polymorphism of -866G/A UCP2 gene was determined using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method Serum high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) concentrations were significantly lower and serum aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT) and triglyceride (TG) concentrations were significantly higher in NAFLD patients compared with control group (P < 0.05). NAFLD patients with higher intakes of "saturated fatty acids" and "cholesterol" had significantly higher serum TG, while patients with higher intakes of "olive" had lower serum TG and AST concentrations. According to -866A/G of UCP2 gene polymorphism between study groups, only the score of "meat" subgroup in NAFLD patients with GG genotype was higher compared with patients in other genotypes of UCP2 gene (P < 0.05). We observed a significant relationship between Mediterranean dietary quality index and metabolic risk factors. We also demonstrated a higher meat intake in GG genotype among these patients.