Association between body composition, eating behavior, dietary intake, and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease in liver transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), the hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome, can occur after liver transplantation (LT) in a multifactorial way. Eating behavior, dietary intake, body composition and other aspects may contribute to the pathogenesis of MASLD after LT.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate and compare eating behavior, anthropometric profile, body composition, muscle strength, dietary habits, and physical activity in post-liver transplant (LT) patients with and without MASLD.

METHODS

Cross-sectional study with patients ≥18 years old who have undergone LT for at least 12 months. Anthropometric data, body composition (bioelectrical impedance), dietary intake (24-h Dietary Recall) and eating behavior (Three Factor Eating Questionnaire-R21) were evaluated.

RESULTS

A total of 138 participants were evaluated (59.4 % men), with a median age of 60 (46-80) years and a post-LT duration of 11.3 ± 6.4 years. The prevalence of MASLD post-LT was 26.1 %. The MASLD group showed higher values of all anthropometric measures and body fat. In the univariate logistic regression adjusted for age, sex and time since transplant, the MASLD group also had a significantly lower percentage of lean mass (OR 0.926; 95 % CI 0.881-0.972; p = 0.002). Regarding eating behavior, patients with MASLD presented significantly higher scores for cognitive restriction compared to those without the condition (OR 1.021; 95 % CI 1.005-1.036; p = 0.008).

CONCLUSION

Post-transplant MASLD was positively associated with increased adiposity and higher levels of cognitive dietary restraint, whereas a greater percentage of lean body mass was inversely associated with the presence of the disease.