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  • Original Article
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Current Evidence Concerning Effects of Ketogenic Diet and Intermittent Fasting in Patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver

  • Pimsiri Sripongpun1 ,
  • Chaitong Churuangsuk2  and
  • Chalermrat Bunchorntavakul3,* 
 Author information
Journal of Clinical and Translational Hepatology 2022;10(4):730-739

DOI: 10.14218/JCTH.2021.00494

Abstract

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is emerging globally, while no therapeutic medication has been approved as an effective treatment to date, lifestyle intervention through dietary modification and physical exercise plays a critical role in NAFLD management. In terms of dietary modification, Mediterranean diet is the most studied dietary pattern and is recommended in many guidelines, however, it may not be feasible and affordable for many patients. Recently, a ketogenic diet and intermittent fasting have gained public attention and have been studied in the role of weight management. This article reviews specifically whether these trendy dietary patterns have an effect on NAFLD outcomes regarding intrahepatic fat content, fibrosis, and liver enzymes, the scientific rationales behind these particular dietary patterns, as well as the safety concerns in some certain patient groups.

Keywords

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, Ketogenic diet, Intermittent fasting, Lifestyle modification, Weight reduction

Introduction

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), recently named as metabolic-associated fatty liver disease, is a major non-communicable disease pandemic, currently affecting approximately 25% of the global population.1 The trend of NAFLD incidence has been increasing worldwide together with those of obesity and metabolic syndrome.2 Although the efficacies of various pharmacologic treatments in NAFLD management have been studied, no effective medication has been proven and recommended as a standard treatment of NAFLD; lifestyle intervention remains the mainstay of management.

Generally, clinical practice guidelines of major international hepatology associations concordantly recommend weight reduction ≥7–10% in overweight or obese patients with NAFLD via hypocaloric diet,3 in combination with more physical exercise.4–6 Notably, successful weight reduction is associated with a reduction in liver enzyme levels and an improvement in histological findings related to liver steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis.4–6 However, a 7–10% weight loss is not easily achievable or sustainable even in the context of clinical trials. Moreover, one-fifth of patients with NAFLD were classified as lean and 40% were non-obese;7 hypocaloric diet may not be the most appropriate treatment for such patients. Therefore, the effect of exposure to dietary patterns on weight reduction, and its benefit beyond weight loss, has been studied in patients with NAFLD.

The Mediterranean diet is the most evaluated dietary pattern in patients with NAFLD; most NAFLD guidelines have established its beneficial effects.4–6 The Mediterranean diet is characterized by a high intake of vegetables, nuts, legumes, olive oil, fruits, whole grains, and fish, with a low intake of red meat, sugars, and refined carbohydrates.8 Nonetheless, in other parts of the world, such as low-income countries and those with food insecurity, that dietary pattern may not be feasible for many people with NAFLD because energy-dense, high-fat, high-sugar, or processed foods are more palatable and affordable than the Mediterranean-style diet.9,10

In recent years, there has been a paramount interest in two dietary patterns, ketogenic diets and intermittent fasting (IF), and their benefits in the management of various health conditions have been evaluated. In this review, we focus on the role of the aforementioned dietary patterns on liver-related outcomes in patients with NAFLD. In the current review, we performed a comprehensive search regarding the effectiveness of a ketogenic diet or IF on NAFLD using the search terms (“ketogenic diet” OR “intermittent fasting”) AND “fatty liver” in PubMed and Web of Science database from inception to October 10, 2021. As we focused exclusively on liver outcomes, only studies including patients with documented NAFLD, not only overweight/obese patients, and available outcomes of liver fat/intrahepatic triglycerides or liver fibrosis were reviewed and summarized in this article. The details of the literature search for the studies included in Tables 1 and 2 are shown in Figure 1.11–28 Of the 18 studies included, two were available only in abstract form (see the Tables 1 and 2). PS performed the literature search and CB double checked the included studies. The outcomes beyond liver outcomes (e.g. cardiovascular, metabolic syndrome, and cancer including hepatocellular carcinoma) in patients with NAFLD were beyond the scope of this review and not included in this article.

Table 1

Characteristics of individual VLCKD studies and their outcomes in patients with NAFLD

StudyType of studyNo. of patients on VLCKD/controlControl dietDurationVLCKD calories (Cal/d)Control diet calories (Cal/d)Weight reduction outcomes (estimated)Liver fat or liver fibrosis outcomesLiver enzymes outcomes
Tendler 200711Single arm5−6 monthsNot reported−weight −10.9%↓ liver fat; ↓ fibrosis (p=0.07); by liver biopsy↔
Pérez−Guisado 201121Single arm14−12 weeksNot reported−BMI −4 kg/m2↓ liver fat by USGimproved
Yu 201422Single arm8−8 weeks800−BMI −2.5 kg/m2↓ liver fat 67%Not reported
Bian 201423Single arm17−6 days1,000−weight −3 kg↓ liver fat 27%↔
Mardinoglu 201812Single arm10−2 weeks3,115−weight −1.8%↓ liver fat 43.8%Not reported
Ministrini 201924Single arm52−25 days800−BMI −2.7 kg/m2↓ liver fat by USG↑ AST/ALT
Luukkonen 202025Single arm10−6 days1,440−weight −3%↓ liver fat 31%; ↔ fibrosisNot reported
D’Abbondanza 202026Single arm70−25 days800−BMI −4 kg/m2↓ liver fat by USG↔
Wolver 202013 (abstract only)Single arm30−6 monthsNot reported−BMI −4.4 kg/m2↓ liver fat by CAP 15%; ↓ fibrosis by liver stiffness measurement 12.3 to 6.8 kPa↓ ALT
Browning 201127Comparative (non−RCT)9/9Low calorie diet2 weeks1,5531,325weight −5 kg VLCKD/−4 kg control↓ liver fat 31% VLCKD vs. 28% control↔
Kirk 200914RCT11/11High carbohydrate content, equal calories11 weeks1,1001,100weight −7.6% vs. −7.3%↓ liver fat 45 % VLCKD vs. 55% control↔
Cunha 202028RCT20/19Low calorie diet2 months600−8001,400−1,800weight −9.7 vs. −1.67 kg↓ liver fat 38.5% VLCKD vs. −2.7% control; ↔ fibrosis↔
Holmer 202115RCT25/24Standard of care12 weeks−184.1 from baseline−282.9 from baselineweight −7.7% vs. −2.6%↓ liver fat by CAP 61.9 vs. 20.2 dB/m; ↔ fibrosis↓ ALT both arms
Gepner 201916RCT but on VLCKD for only 2 months then up to 70 gm/d and Med/LC139/139Low fat diet18 months−26% from baseline−22% from baselineNot reported↓ liver fat 4.2% (absolute unit) in Med/LC vs. 3.8% controlNot reported

ALT, alanine aminotransferase; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; BMI, body mass index; CAP, controlled attenuation parameter; Med/LC, Mediterranean plus low-calorie diet, NAFLD, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; RCT, randomized controlled trial; USG, ultrasonography; VLCKD, very low carbohydrate ketogenic diet.

Table 2

Characteristics of individual IF studies and their outcomes in patients with NAFLD

StudyType of studyNo. of patients on IF/controlIF typeControl dietDurationIF calories (Cal/d)Control diet calories (Cal/d)Weight reduction outcomes (estimated)Liver fat or liver fibrosis outcomesLiver enzymes outcomes
Ebrahimi 202017Observational42/41RamadanNon−fasting1 month1,9702,150BMI −0.8 vs. −0.02 kg/m2↓ liver fat by USG in IF groupImproved
Hodge 201420 (abstract only)RCT17/15TRF 8:16Standard of care12 weeksNot reportedNot reportedBMI −1 vs. −1 kg/m2↓ liver fat by CAP (IF 287 to 263 dB/m, p=0.012; control=NS); ↓ fibrosis by TE (IF 7.33 to 5.84 kPa, p=0.0088; control=NS)Not reported
Johari 201919RCT33/10ADF (70% calories)Usual habitual diet8 weeksNot reportedNot reportedweight ↓ 3.06 kg more than control↓ liver fat by USG in IF group; ↓ fibrosis by SWE 0.74 kPa more than controlImproved
Cai 201918RCT95/79ADF (25% calories)80% calories12 weeks1,327 feed/330 fast1,309weight −6.1% IF vs. −2.54% controlNo report liver on fat; But ↓ fat mass by DXA than control; ↔ fibrosisNot reported
Cai 201918RCT97/79TRF 8:1680% calories12 weeks1,3581,309weight −4.8% IF vs. −2.54% controlNo report on liver fat; but ↓ fat mass by DXA than control; ↔ fibrosisNot reported
Holmer 202115RCT25/245:2Standard of care12 weeks−587.8 from baseline−282.9 from baselineweight −7.4% IF vs. −2.6% control↓ liver fat by CAP 63.8 vs. 20.2 dB/m; ↓ fibrosis by TE 1.8 vs. 1.5 kPa control↓ ALT both arms

ADF, alternate-day fasting; ALT, alanine aminotransferase; BMI, body mass index; CAP, controlled attenuation parameter; DXA, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry; IF, intermediate fasting; Med/LC, Mediterranean plus low-calorie diet, NAFLD, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; NS, not significant; RCT, randomized controlled trial; SWE, shear wave elastography; TE, transient elastography; TRF, time-restricted fasting; USG, ultrasonography.

Literature search for the studies included in .
Fig. 1  Literature search for the studies included in Tables 1 and 2.

Ketogenic Diet

Rationale

A ketogenic diet is one that induces ketosis. It can be a very low-calorie diet (<800 kcal/day) or very low carbohydrate diet that limits carbohydrate intake to <50 g/day and has an energy intake usually of >1,000 kcal/day).29 Very low carbohydrate diets have gained much research interest in terms of health benefits and have become popular in lay public use and among some clinicians and nutrition scientists.30,31 The current National Lipid Association Nutrition and Lifestyle Task Force classification of diets commonly confused with a ketogenic diet is shown in Table 3.29 In this review, a very low carbohydrate ketogenic diet (VLCKD) is one that limits carbohydrate intake to <20–50 g/day or <10% of total energy intake, regardless of total daily energy intake.32

Table 3

National Lipid Association Nutrition and Lifestyle Task Force classification of low carbohydrate, very low carbohydrate ketogenic, and very low-calorie diets29

NomenclatureKetogenicTotal calories per day% Macronutrients in total calories per day
CHOProteinFat
VLCHF/KDYes>1,000<10 (<20–50 g/day)Around 10 (1.2–1.5 g/kg/day)70–80
Low CHONo>1,00010–25 (38–97 g/day)10–3025–45
Very low-calorie dietYes/No varies<800VariesVariesVaries
Classic KDYesVaries3790

CHO, carbohydrate; KD, ketogenic diet; VLCHF, very low CHO.

While emphasis is laid on carbohydrate intake, the types of fats and proteins that replace carbohydrates are less emphasized,33 this usually results in a high intake of saturated fats and cholesterol, which is related to insulin resistance and cardiovascular risks.29,34 The use of the ketogenic diet in patients with NAFLD stems from the notion that limiting carbohydrate intake results in relatively low blood glucose levels34 leading to lower insulin levels, and thus in reduction of hepatic de novo lipogenesis.35 Patients with NAFLD have high hepatic triglyceride levels resulting from three sources, de novo lipogenesis (mostly from glucose), lipolysis from adipose tissue, and dietary free fatty acids.36 In healthy people, free fatty acids from adipose tissue contribute 60–80% of hepatic triglycerides, followed by dietary free fatty acids (15%), and de novo lipogenesis (5%).36 On the other hand, the level of hepatic triglycerides generated from de novo lipogenesis is five times higher (26%) in patients with NAFLD than in healthy people (5%) because of insulin resistance in patients with NAFLD.36 Given that de novo lipogenesis mostly results from the metabolism of circulating glucose, this physiological perspective could explain the promising role of ketogenic diet exposure in NAFLD management.

Nutritional ketosis, ketone bodies, generated in response to carbohydrate restriction could further facilitate weight loss by promoting satiety leading to reduction of total energy intake.37 In addition, growing evidence has shown beneficial effects of ketone bodies in the inhibition of obesity-induced inflammation and oxidative stress and might play a role in modulating NAFLD pathophysiology. In particular, Youm et al.38 reported that β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) reduced NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated interleukin (IL)-1β and IL18 production in human monocytes together with an attenuation of IL1β secretion a in mouse model, a key inflammatory cytokine related to obesity and insulin resistance. Activation of NLRP3 inflammasome also had a central role in liver inflammation and fibrosis in a mouse model.39 BHB is a ligand for hydroxycarboxylic acid receptor-2 (HCA2), which is highly expressed in immune cells such as macrophages and monocytes, and has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties in atherosclerosis, obesity, and cancer.40 BHB is an epigenetic modifier by inhibiting histone deacetylase, resulting in histone acetylation, and expression of oxidative stress resistance gene.41

Evidence of ketogenic diet exposure effects on NAFLD outcomes

The study that initially reported beneficial effects of VLCKD was published in 2007.11 Tendler et al.11 placed five patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD on a restricted diet of <20 g/day of carbohydrates for 6 months without total calorie restriction. At the end of the study period, the patients had an average weight reduction of 10.9%. On follow-up liver biopsy, a significant reduction in the degree of hepatic steatosis was observed, with a trend towards improvement in liver fibrosis (p=0.07). Table 1 summarizes the studies of VLCKD and effects on the outcomes of patients with NAFLD. The majority of studies on VLCKD had a single arm with a limited number of patients and involved caloric restriction below 1,200 kcal/day, resulting in significant weight loss and hepatic steatosis improvement. It is difficult to determine whether the reduction in hepatic fat content was caused by the VLCKD pattern or weight loss in general. Nonetheless, Mardinoglu et al.12 conducted a single arm interventional study in which 10 Nordic patients with NAFLD were instructed to consume <30 g/day of carbohydrates, without total energy restriction. The average energy intake was 3,115 kcal/day). They observed a significant reduction in hepatic fat content of 43.8% despite a minimal weight loss of 1.8%. Another recent report from Wolver et al.13 demonstrated interesting outcomes of VLCKD for 6-months. with significant improvement of both liver steatosis and liver fibrosis. However, this was a preliminary result of the study and presented in a conference abstract only, and no data regarding total calories per day were mentioned. The final results of that study are eagerly awaited.

A randomized controlled trial (RCT) by Kirk et al.,14 observed a similar degree of weight loss in patients in VLCKD and low-calorie control diet. The intrahepatic triglyceride content decreased significantly from baseline but was not different in the two groups at the end of the study. More recently, Holmer et al.15 conducted an RCT in patients with NAFLD who received a standard of care (SoC) or VLCKD for 12 weeks. Patients in the VLCKD arm experienced a significantly greater weight loss and intrahepatic fat content reduction, despite a smaller reduction in daily total energy intake. However, the benefit in terms of liver fibrosis was not demonstrated.

Previously, the largest RCT with a long-term follow-up duration was conducted by Gepner et al.16 in 278 patients, with 139 on a VLCKD with 40 g/day of carbohydrates for 2 months and was gradually increased to 70 g/day for a total of 18 months with a Mediterranean-style diet (Med/LC). The control group included 139 patients on a low-fat diet for the 18 month period. The reduction in liver fat content was significantly greater in the Med/LC group than in the low-fat diet group. Unfortunately, liver fibrosis, the important surrogate marker of long-term outcomes in patients with NAFLD, was not reported. In addition, VLCKD exposure lasted only for the first 2 months of the total study period; hence, it was impossible to conclude whether the greater reduction in hepatic fat content was caused by the VLCKD or resulted from the beneficial effect of the Mediterranean-style diet.

Overall, based on the current evidence of VLCKD effects in patients with NAFLD, a significant reduction in intrahepatic fat content was observed in patients exposed to VLCKD. However, it is important to keep in mind that most data came from a combination of VLCKD with calorie restriction (hypocaloric diet). And the control arms in comparative studies, when the diets were hypo-energetic, the intrahepatic fat content was reduced as well. Without hypocaloric diet, the beneficial effect of VLCKD is yet to be defined. Furthermore, based on available data on isocaloric diet effects compared between patients exposed to low-fat, high-carbohydrate diets and in those exposed to high-fat, low-carbohydrate (above the VLCKD level) diets, intrahepatic fat content tended to be lower in patients exposed to low-fat diets than in those exposed to low-carbohydrate diets.42

Safety concerns

Ketogenic diets require an extreme avoidance of carbohydrate foods to generate nutritional ketosis. Carbohydrates are a good source of vitamins, minerals, and bioactive compounds such as polyphenols, and thus long-term exposure to a ketogenic diet can result in micronutrient inadequacy or deficiency if the diet is not appropriately guided. Reduction in thiamine, folate, calcium, magnesium, iron, iodine, and fiber intake have been reported after ketogenic or low-carbohydrate diets.43 Moreover, case reports have highlighted occurrences of Wernicke’s encephalopathy, cardiac beriberi, and optic neuropathy in patients with low carbohydrate intake.44,45

As mentioned earlier, there is less emphasis on types of fat and protein consumed, which could contribute to different metabolic responses. The ketogenic diet is usually high in saturated fats, which increases LDL cholesterol levels and insulin resistance,46,47 thereby potentially augmenting the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases.48,49 A longitudinal cohort study also showed that a high intake of animal fat and protein, in place of carbohydrates, is associated with high risk of mortality and type 2 diabetes.50–52 Several recent case reports have highlighted the occurrence of ketoacidosis in people following ketogenic diets,53–56 lactating women,57,58 and patients with type 2 diabetes using SGLT-2 inhibitors reportedly have a higher risk of ketoacidosis.59 Exacerbating panic and anxiety disorders in a woman on a ketogenic diet has been reported, probably resulting from diet-induced reductions brain serotonin and plasma tryptophan.60

Apart from possible adverse events of VLCKD in general, some had been reported in the studies of patients with NAFLD. Most of the studies did not report the adverse effects following VLCKD, however, muscle cramping had been reported in one patient in a study by Tendler et al.,11 in and six of 25 patients in Holmer et al.15 experienced either dyspepsia, nausea, headache, or vertigo, and felt that the diet was difficult to implement, which led to diet discontinuation in five patients. In addition, a case series reported that two cirrhotic patients tolerated VLCKD well for weight reduction for 28–30 weeks before liver transplantation without significant adverse effects.61 Nonetheless, elevation of total bilirubin was observed at the end of the VLCKD period in both patients, and elevations in serum alanine transaminase (ALT) and creatinine were observed in one patient. In our opinion, more data are needed to confirm the safety of VLCKD in patients with cirrhosis.

IF

Rationale

IF refers to a period of voluntary abstinence from food and/or drink for caloric restriction, or no caloric intake over a specified period of time.62 There are three types of IF, alternate-day fasting (ADF), periodic fasting, and time-restricted fasting (TRF).63 The most well-known periodic fasting schedule is 5:2, which means having a regular diet for 5 days a week and fasting or near fasting for 2 days a week. The most well-known TRF schedule is 16:8, which means fasting for 16 h and eating for 8 h a day (Fig. 2). IF has gained attention as an effective strategy for weight loss in people with NAFLD, given that weight loss is the mainstay of NAFLD management for fat content and fibrosis extent reduction.63 Generally, people following IF have approximately 10% or 300 kcal less energy intake than people taking normal diets or in non-fasting periods (Table 2). In addition, several health benefits of IF have been reported, including improvements in insulin resistance, inflammation, blood pressure, and blood cholesterol levels.64 Extensive studies in rodents and non-human primates have demonstrated that the molecular mechanisms whereby dietary restriction promotes health and longevity primarily involve inhibition of mammalian target of rapamycin signaling, insulin/insulin-like growth factor signaling, growth hormone signaling, and autophagy pathways.64

Common types of intermittent fasting (IF).
Fig. 2  Common types of intermittent fasting (IF).

Evidence of IF effects on NAFLD outcomes

In contrast to VLCKD, IF or a time-restricted diet effects just have been recently studied in patients with NAFLD. Figure 2 depicts the common types of IF,63,65 and Table 2 summarizes studies of the effect of IF on NAFLD outcomes. Ramadan is a holy month for Muslims and fasting is one of Islam’s Five Pillars. Healthy adults are expected to practice Ramadan fasting (RF). Muslims who observe RF refrain from eating or drinking from dawn to sunset every day for 1 month.17 Several studies have evaluated the effects of RF in NAFLD patients.17,66–68 However, there was only one observational study evaluated the effects of RF on liver fat outcomes.17 The study included 83 patients in Iran and demonstrated that those who fasted during Ramadan had greater weight loss and improvement in hepatic steatosis grade on ultrasound than those who did not fast. Improvements in liver enzymes and cholesterol levels were also observed in the RF group. Moreover, daily caloric intake appeared to be lower in patients who fasted.

Four RCTs investigating the effect of IF on the outcomes of patients with NAFLD who underwent different methods of fasting have been published. One was an abstract and three were published manuscripts. Two of the RCTs had conflicting results of the impact of ADF on patient outcomes. Cai et al.18 randomly assigned patients to an ADF with a 25% caloric intake on fasting days or a control group for 12 weeks. Patients in ADF group had a lower daily energy intake, end-of-study weight, and total body fat mass. Nevertheless, the degree of liver fibrosis measured by transient elastography, was not improved and was comparable to that in the control group. Johari et al.,19 whose study was published in the same year, reported greater weight loss, greater reduction in hepatic steatosis grade, and improved liver fibrosis measured by shear wave elastography in patients with modified ADF with 70% caloric intake during fasting days, compared with patients who consumed their usual diet for a duration of 8 weeks. Cai et al.18 compared the outcomes of TRF using the 8:16 h method with SoC outcomes. Intriguingly, the TRF group had a greater weight loss than the SoC group even though the daily caloric intake appeared to be a little higher in the TRF group. The study showed no change in the extent of liver fibrosis, but the patients had a high degree of fibrosis, with a mean liver stiffness >18 kPa, which is comparable to stage 4 fibrosis or cirrhosis, in both groups. Hodge et al.20 conducted an RCT using TRF as IF. Patients in IF arm had a significant reduction in both liver steatosis and liver fibrosis measured by liver stiffness. The same results were not observed in patients in the control group despite similar degrees of body mass index (BMI) reduction.20 A recent RCT by Holmer et al.15 evaluated and compared the effects of IF and SoC on patient outcome. The IF group used the 5:2 dietary approach with a caloric restriction of 500 cal/day in women and 600 kcal/day in men for two non-consecutive days per week. Patients in the IF group had a greater reduction in daily caloric intake, lost more weight, and had a greater reduction in hepatic steatosis than those in the SoC group. Moreover, an improvement in hepatic fibrosis measured by transient elastography was observed in both groups. Notably, liver stiffness improvement was numerically higher in the IF than in the SoC group (1.8 vs. 1.5 kPa). In spite of the better liver-related outcomes reported in both observational RF studies and RCTs compared with controls, it is unclear whether the improved outcomes resulted from IF or weight loss. Notwithstanding, IF may be a viable alternative for patients who are unable to maintain weight control by daily caloric restriction.

Safety concerns

IF is simple and relatively safe for most people, with fewer safety concerns compared with a ketogenic diet. Possible concerns related to IF include hypoglycemia in patients with diabetes receiving insulin therapy or insulinogenic drugs and hypotension in patients taking antihypertensive medications. In addition, in patients with liver cirrhosis undergoing IF, overnight fasting can mimic 72 h starvation, resulting in malnutrition and increased complications. IF can also aggravate starvation effects, thereby causing negative outcomes. In the clinical trials of IF in patients with NAFLD, most studies reported that no significant adverse events were observed. Holmer et al.15 reported only one hypoglycemic and one presyncope episode in a patient participated in the study.

There is also a concern that IF could trigger binge eating, i.e. overeating after food is made available, as IF requires a shift in regular mealtimes. Although one study showed no relationship between IF and pathologic eating patterns in people with no history of eating disorders,65 two studies in individuals with eating disorders showed an increase in food intake following 6 h and 14 h fasts.69,70 A longitudinal study also reported that self-reported fasting was a predictor of eating pathologies and recurrent binge eating.71

Comparisons of Mediterranean Diet, Ketogenic Diet, and IF on Liver Outcomes in Patients with NAFLD

Although there was no head-to-head comparison evaluate liver fat and liver fibrosis outcomes of the three dietary patterns, there are some overlaps on proposed mechanistic pathways in the Mediterranean diet, VLKCD, and IF (Fig. 3). Briefly, all dietary patterns are associated with lower total energy intake and negative energy balance that leads to weight loss. Apart from negative energy balance, the Mediterranean diet is characterized by low saturated fat and refined sugar and high omega-3 and mono-unsaturated fatty acid intake, which has a theoretical benefit on reduction of oxidative stress and improvement of insulin resistance.72 VLKCDs limit carbohydrate intake that results in persistently low insulin level, and fatty acid oxidation is promoted, which leads to a reduction of de novo hepatic lipogenesis.34,35 Lastly, for IF, prolonged fasting of more than 12 h also leads to hepatic glycogen depletion and augmented hepatic lipolysis, that would reduce hepatic steatosis.72

Proposed mechanistic pathways of Mediterranean diet, ketogenic diet and intermittent fasting for NAFLD.
Fig. 3  Proposed mechanistic pathways of Mediterranean diet, ketogenic diet and intermittent fasting for NAFLD.

NAFLD, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

The key concepts and evidence of the effects of dietary pattern on liver outcomes in patients with NAFLD are summarized in Table 4.11,13,63 The Mediterranean diet is associated with the lowest possible adverse effects and long-term liver-related benefits.16,73–75 Ketogenic diets and IF also have scientific rationales and clinical results of improving liver outcomes in patients with NAFLD, but some concerns and long-term results are uncertain.

Table 4

Key findings and concepts of Mediterranean diet, ketogenic diet, and IF on liver outcomes in patients with NAFLD

Dietary patternsMediterranean dietKetogenic dietIntermittent fasting
CharacteristicsHigh intake of plant-based food and fish, olive oil, limited consumption of refined sugar and processed food, red meat, moderate consumption of yogurt and wine63Limits carbohydrate intake to <20–50 g/day or <10% of total energy intake, regardless of total daily energyVoluntary abstinence from foods and/or drinks for caloric restriction in a specific period, or no caloric intake over a specified period of time
ConceptHealthy dietary pattern, low in saturated fat, high in polyunsaturated fat. High fiber and low refined sugarLimiting carbohydrate intake results in relatively low blood glucose levels and thus reduces hepatic de novo lipogenesisLess energy intake than people taking usual diets. And possible reduce insulin resistance, inflammation, and enhance autophagy
Fatty liver outcomesSignificant reduction in liver fat compared with their respective control groups in the literature. Improvement in liver fibrosis measured by liver stiffness had been observedSignificant reduction in liver fat compared with their respective control groups in the literature. Inconclusive results on liver fibrosis improvementSignificant reduction in liver fat compared with their respective control groups in the literature. Improvement in liver fibrosis measured by liver stiffness had been observed
Follow-up time in the literatureLongitudinal data available up to 18 monthsMost are short term data no longer than 3 months except Tendler et al.11 and Wolver et al.13To date, all are short term data no longer than 3 months
ConcernsAvailability. Palatability. AffordabilityRisk of micronutrients deficiency. Might induced ketoacidosis. Might experience an adverse event of gastrointestinal disturbance. Patients might shift to consume high saturated fat and long-term cardiovascular risk is uncertainMight not be suitable in patients with cirrhosis. Hypoglycemia in patients with diabetes should be aware

Summary

In the light of an increasing global burden of NAFLD, lifestyle intervention is the mainstay of NAFLD management, as effective therapeutic medications have not been established. Although the Mediterranean diet is recommended by many guidelines, it is not easily accessible for many patients. Ketogenic diets and IF have recently become dietary patterns of general interest. The pros and the cons of both dietary patterns are summarized in Table 4. With some plausible mechanisms underlying a reduction in intrahepatic fat content, it remains inconclusive whether the abovementioned outcomes resulted from the dietary pattern itself or from a hypocaloric intake after exposure to the dietary pattern. In our opinion, ketogenic diets and IF appear acceptable in patients without significant comorbidities. Both ketogenic diets and IF should not be routinely recommended in all patients with NAFLD, but can be considered as alternative therapeutic options in patients who do not achieve targeted weight loss by conventional lifestyle intervention recommendations. They may have some additional benefits in patients who can tolerate and adhere to the dietary patterns, such as reduction in liver fat, and to a lesser extent, reduction in liver fibrosis. Nonetheless, there are concerns of possible adverse events following exposure to the dietary patterns, which should be considered.

Abbreviations

ADF: 

alternate-day fasting

ALT: 

alanine transaminase

BHB: 

β-hydroxybutyrate

BMI: 

body mass index

IF: 

intermittent fasting

IL: 

interleukin

MED/LC: 

Mediterranean plus low-calorie diet

NAFLD: 

nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

RCT: 

randomized controlled trial

RF: 

Ramadan fasting

SoC: 

standard of care

TRF: 

time-restricted fasting

VLCKD: 

very low carbohydrate ketogenic diet

Declarations

Funding

None to declare.

Conflict of interest

CB has been an editorial board member of Journal of Clinical and Translational Hepatology since 2013. The other authors have no conflict of interests related to this publication.

Authors’ contributions

Manuscript concept and design (PS, CB), drafting of the manuscript (PS, CC), and critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content (PS, CC, CB).

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