World Liver Day: Improving Diet Could Reduce Liver Disease Risk by 50%

With World Liver Day on April 19, medical experts are shedding light on the important link between diet and the liver, and emphasizing that healthy food choices now can reduce the risk of liver disease by up to 50%.

With more and more cases of liver disease being reported in urban and rural settings, health experts are reiterating the notion that "food is medicine." They noted that liver diseases are not only linked to alcohol use anymore. There has been an alarming increase in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which is also commonly related to improper dietary habits, obesity, and physical inactivity.

A comprehensive study published in Frontiers in Nutrition highlights the critical role of diet in sustaining liver health. Researchers who examined data from more than 121,000 UK Biobank participants found that those consuming diets with greater pro-inflammatory potential as measured by the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) had a 16% higher risk of chronic liver disease (CLD). Conversely, anti-inflammatory diets like the Mediterranean diet or foods that rank well on the Healthy Eating Index 2020 have been found to reduce the risk of CLD.

"Nearly 50% of liver disease conditions can be prevented by just changing their diet and their nutrition. We can reverse the damage that is done by bad food habits, alcohol, junk food, and sitting around," said Dr. Sanjiv Saigal, President of the Liver Transplantation Society of India (LTSI). He added that the healing power of the liver means that even prolonged damage can be reversed with the appropriate change in lifestyle.

Adding a diet rich in fresh fruits, green vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins not only prevents liver disease but also facilitates liver regeneration.

"We frequently notice beneficial changes when patients adopt healthier food habits—liver enzyme levels enhance, energy boosts, and long-term health effects improve considerably. The beginning is to read food labels and decrease dependence on processed food," added Dr. Saigal.

Experts say that through an emphasis on new ingredients, home cooking, hydration, and mindful eating, we can defend ourselves against liver-related problems. In the meantime, sugary beverages, processed foods, and fast food remain to be added to the causes of liver injury.

Another study in Nutrients reveals an alarming link between excessive fructose intake through processed foods and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) in obese children. According to the study, excessive fructose present in sugary drinks and processed foods leads to fat accumulation in the liver and insulin resistance.

These results stress the need to put restrictions on added sugar content in children's food to avoid the increased incidences of liver disorders among children.