Investigating the Two-Way Interaction Effect of Diet and Lifestyle Factors on Liver Fat Levels: A Controlled Spectroscopic Analysis

Abstract

Background: Changes in normal liver lipid levels indicate various diseases closely related to dietary and lifestyle factors. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is a reliable, advanced, and noninvasive method for estimating these levels. This study aimed to evaluate the interaction effect of diet and lifestyle factors on liver lipid levels, as measured by MRS, among female students. Methods and Results: This cross-sectional study included 29 female students from the Department of Radiological Sciences who underwent MRS to evaluate liver lipid levels and correlate these levels with lifestyle factors assessed by a questionnaire. SPSS two-way ANCOVA was applied to the acquired data. Diet and exercise had a significant interaction effect on the liver lipid levels after adjusting for gender and age (P=0.036). The interaction between diet and other factors such as caffeinated drinks, family history, smoking, and body mass index (BMI) with lipid levels did not reach significant levels (P>0.05). Conclusion: The results obtained support the strong interaction effect of diet and exercise on liver fat levels. Adopting a healthy lifestyle characterized by healthy food choices and regular exercise may help maintain normal liver fat levels and reduce the risk of HS and NAFLD in young women.

Keywords

• magnetic resonance spectroscopy
• lifestyle factors
• non-alcoholic hepatic steatosis
• fatty liver disease