Fatty Liver, Nonalcoholic
Conditions
Keywords
Mediterranean Diet
Brief summary
The goal of this pre-intervention study is test the acceptability of Asian version of the Mediterranean diet to NAFLD patients. The main question\[s\] it aims to answer are: 1. Whether Asian version of the Mediterranean diet that retains the nutritional composition and can be developed by mapping the components of the Mediterranean diet and finding substitute ingredients commonly eaten in Southeast Asia. 2. Whether the 4-week menu cycle of newly developed novel Asian Mediterranean diet is acceptable among Singaporean local population. Participants will participate in taste test sessions to find out if the Asian Mediterranean diet meals are acceptable to people with NAFLD.
Detailed description
Numerous studies have shown that Mediterranean diet decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, cancer and overall mortality characterized by being low in saturated fats and animal protein, high in antioxidants, fibre and monounsaturated fatty acids, and with an adequate omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acid balance. Recent studies have proved that adherence to a Mediterranean diet is beneficial for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) as it provides antioxidants and anti-inflammatory nutrients that slows the development of hepatic steatosis. However, adhering to the Mediterranean diet can be difficult for people of Southeast Asian cultural backgrounds to follow, as food items used in traditional Mediterranean diets may not be readily available or frequently used in local cuisines. It is therefore the aim of this study to first map out the nutritional composition of the traditional Mediterranean diet, derive substitute ingredients, and then develop an Asian version of the Mediterranean diet that can be accepted and easily adopted by the Asian population while retaining the beneficial nutritional characteristics. Following this, NAFLD patients will be recruited for the sensory evaluation of the Asian Mediterranean diet. Specifically for this study, the researchers are keen to focus on a clinical condition (i.e. NAFLD) that has been demonstrated to reap positive effects from adopting a Mediterranean diet. As such, this is a pre-intervention study with a focus on development and evaluating its acceptability among NAFLD patients.
Interventions
None listed
Sponsors
Singapore Institute of Technology
Singapore Health Services
Study design
Observational model
CASE_ONLY
Time perspective
CROSS_SECTIONAL
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
21 Years to 60 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Diagnosis of NAFLD, as determined clinically by imaging evidence of hepatic steatosis on ultrasound/CT/MRI
Exclusion criteria
* Secondary causes of NAFLD (e.g. medication-induced) * Unstable body weight (variation \>5% within the preceding 3 months) * Current use of weight loss medications * Other liver diseases (viral hepatitis, auto-immune or cholestatic liver disease, Wilson's disease, hemochromatosis, alpha-1 anti-trypsin deficiency) * Unstable diabetes (HbA1c \>8.5%) * Renal failure * Inability to provide informed consent * Pregnancy and lactation * Problems with tasting and smelling * Food allergy/intolerances/restrictions
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Sensory Evaluation Test Score NAFLD | 15 April to 27 Dec 2024 | Score of sensory evaluation test to assess the acceptability of Asian Mediterranean diet in subjects with NAFLD on a 7-point Likert scale. Lower score on the 7-point Likert scale of 1 to 7 (1 = Like Very Much, 7 = Dislike Very Much) would mean a better outcome. |
Countries
Singapore
Contacts
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORVerena Tan, Ph.D
+65 9172 4062
Outcome results
None listed