A Low–Free-Sugar Diet Improves Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Limiting free-sugar intake for 8 weeks significantly reduced hepatic steatosis and serum alanine aminotransferase levels in adolescent boys with NAFLD.

Current treatment recommendations for children with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are exercise and a healthy diet. To determine the effect of lowering free-sugar intake in children with NAFLD, investigators conducted a multicenter, randomized, controlled, open-label trial involving 40 boys (aged 11–16 years; 95% Hispanic) with a clinical or pathological diagnosis of NAFLD and evidence of active disease. Participants received an 8-week course of either a study-provided low–free-sugar diet (<3% of calories as sugar) or a usual diet. The primary outcome was change in hepatic steatosis.

Free-sugar intake declined more with the study diet than with the usual diet (11% to 1% vs. 14% to 9%; P<0.001), as did hepatic steatosis (25% to 17% …

Reviewing Author

F. Bruder Stapleton, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardCareer Physician

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Pediatric Nephrology Foundation (Chair)

F. Bruder Stapleton, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardCareer Physician

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Pediatric Nephrology Foundation (Chair)

A Low–Free-Sugar Diet Improves Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

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Reviewing Author