Dietary Intake of Major Minerals and Trace Elements in Patients with Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease: Implications for Dietary Intervention.

INTRODUCTION

An imbalanced diet is one of the leading causes of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) development. Diet modification remains the leading approach in the disease management. However, the role of minerals in MASLD development and treatment is poorly understood. In this retrospective study we compared minerals intake in patients with MASLD and age- and sex-matched controls, based on the data of a food frequency questionnaire.

METHODS

A retrospective database search was performed to identify eligible data of the nutritional assessment with software based on a food frequency questionnaire. The institutional medical records of the obtained cohort were then searched for medical conditions in accordance with the inclusion/exclusion criteria. On the basis of the presence of MASLD, the subjects were allocated to either MASLD or the control group. Sex- and age-matched pairs were formed for the analysis. Consumption of major minerals and trace elements was compared using non-parametric statistics.

RESULTS

Records of 15,862 subjects were screened, and the data of 226 sex- and age-matched pairs of patients with MASLD and controls were selected for the analysis. The absolute average daily intake of most of the minerals, except silicon, cobalt, molybdenum, nickel, and chromium, was greater in the MASLD group than in the control group. However, relative value (per 1000 kcal) analysis revealed that only boron intake was greater in the MASLD group (28.3 ± 38.5 vs 19.5 ± 24.7 μg/day, p = 0.013). Subjects with MASLD exceeded the recommended daily allowance (RDA) for sodium (241% of RDA), phosphorus (211%), vanadium (1576%), manganese (410%), and selenium (197%) intake, but consumed less than the recommended amounts of silicon (5% of the RDA), molybdenum (28%), fluorine (3%), zinc (91%), and chromium (37%).

CONCLUSION

Patients with MASLD consumed greater amounts of most minerals than did the control group due to overeating. When diet modification for patients with MASLD is planned, the intake of calcium, zinc, and boron needs to be controlled, and the diet may be modified with food supplements or specific foods rich in these minerals.