If you have fatty liver disease: Doctors recommend trying this diet.

Intermittent fasting was initially known as a weight-loss method, but there is growing evidence that this diet may benefit people with liver disease, particularly fatty liver disease.

Why is intermittent fasting effective for fatty liver disease?

Dr. Padmini BV, Head of Clinical Nutrition at Apollo Hospital, Bangalore (India), explains: Intermittent fasting is based on the idea that fasting causes the body to switch from using glucose from the liver to ketones from fat cells as its primary energy source. This process activates metabolic pathways that increase resistance to oxidative stress and metabolic stress. This is the mechanism that helps eliminate damaged cells and promote liver cell regeneration.

In addition, this eating method activates the process of cellular "autophagy," through which damaged components in liver cells are removed and regenerated.

Intermittent fasting has initially shown effectiveness in treating fatty liver disease.

Illustration: AI

Common forms of intermittent fasting

Some common forms of intermittent fasting include:

Fasting according to a fixed schedule : Eating within a specific time frame each day, for example, only eating between 9 am and 5 pm.

Alternate fasting days: Alternate between days of normal eating and days of fasting.

The 5:2 diet: Limit calorie intake to 20-25% of your daily requirement for 1-2 days each week, and eat normally on the remaining days.

Fatty liver disease and the role of intermittent fasting.

Fatty liver disease is becoming a leading cause of chronic liver disease, progressing from fatty liver to steatohepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer.

Lifestyle interventions, particularly diet and physical activity, remain the primary treatment options. Among these, intermittent fasting is gaining attention due to its apparent effectiveness on fatty liver and related indicators.

A meta-analysis has shown that intermittent fasting is highly effective in reducing liver fat and improving liver enzyme levels.

A 2024 study conducted by Hangzhou Xixi Hospital and Hangzhou No. 1 People's Hospital, China Medical University, aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the 5:2 diet on weight and metabolic parameters in patients with fatty liver disease, compared to a daily calorie-restricted diet.

In the study, 60 patients with fatty liver disease were divided into two groups:

Group 1: Follow the 5:2 diet, restricting calorie intake for 2 days each week and not restricting it for the remaining 5 days.

Group 2: Restrict daily calorie intake

After 12 weeks of follow-up, researchers concluded that the 5:2 diet not only helps with weight loss and reduction of visceral fat but also improves liver enzymes, triglycerides, and inflammatory markers in patients with fatty liver disease.

Important note

Dr. Padmini noted that it's important to consult a doctor before starting any form of fasting, especially if you have liver disease or other underlying health conditions.

Combine intermittent fasting with a healthy diet and active lifestyle for optimal results.

Intermittent fasting is not suitable for everyone, especially some people with severe liver disease.

Although the initial results are very promising, further large-scale and long-term studies are needed to confirm the effectiveness of intermittent fasting for chronic liver disease.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/mac-gan-nhiem-mo-bac-si-khuyen-thu-an-theo-cach-nay-185250814164107329.htm