Objective: There are several reports regarding the role of therapeutic diets for patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the effects of a low-calorie, low-carbohydrate soy-containing diet on lipid profiles, liver enzymes, and coagulating factors in patients with NAFLD.
Method: This was a randomized parallel clinical trial involving 45 patients with NAFLD. The participants consumed three kinds of diets for 8 wk. Patients were randomly assigned to consume a low-calorie diet; a low-calorie, low-carbohydrate diet; or a low-calorie, low-carbohydrate soy-containing diet. Measurements were done according to the standard method.
Results: Changes in weight were not significantly different in the three groups. The low-calorie, low-carbohydrate soy-containing diet could reduce alanine aminotransferase (-15.2 ± 12.1 versus -6.8 ± 4.6 in the low-calorie, low-carbohydrate diet, and -6.4 ± 4.4 IU/L in the low-calorie diet; P = 0.02) and serum fibrinogen levels (-49.1 ± 60.1 versus -12.9 ± 8.1 and -17.4 ± 8.4 g/L, respectively; P = 0.01). Reductions in aspartate aminotransferase were significantly higher in the low-calorie, low-carbohydrate soy-containing group. Changes in lipid profiles did not differ significantly between the groups. The soy-containing diet did reduce malondialdehyde more than the other diets (P = 0.01).
Conclusion: A low-calorie, low-carbohydrate soy-containing diet could have beneficial effects on liver enzymes, malondialdehyde, and serum fibrinogen levels in patients with NAFLD.
Keywords: Coagulation; Lipid abnormalities; Low-calorie diet; Low-carbohydrate diet; Non-alcoholic fatty liver; Soy.
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