Japanese Diet Might Be Beneficial for Liver Fibrosis: New Study!
The Japanese diet is known for its many health benefits. A diet that incorporates an equal mix of all food groups is considered to be the secret behind the longevity and health of the Japanese people. Now a recent study has found another benefit of the diet.
A group of researchers has found that the Japanese diet might help treat fatty liver conditions such as liver fibrosis. Well, another reason to love Japanese food more!
How Japanese Diet Pattern Can Be Effective For Liver Fibrosis?
Recent research conducted by a group of scientists from Osaka Metropolitan University has shared some important findings related to liver fibrosis. According to this research, the severity of liver fibrosis can be reduced by adhering to a diet pattern similar to the Japanese diet.
The findings of the research were published in the Nutrients journal on 26th February 2023. The research points out a path-breaking finding in the treatment of various liver disorders.
One of the specialties of Japanese cuisine is that it has been registered under the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. Along with the recent findings, the value of Japanese food has spiked. The Japanese diet pattern has a scoring system known as the “12 component modified Japanese Diet Index“ aka mJDI12.
This system suggests 12 foods and food groups of Japanese cuisine. And these food items are rice, pickles, miso soup, soy products, fruits, green and yellow vegetables, seafood, seaweed, mushrooms, green tea, coffee, pork, and beef. The system is analyzed based on a score ranging from 0 to 12. Higher scores indicate that the diet is conforming to the traditional Japanese food pattern.
Guided by Dr. Hideki Fujii M.D and Yoshinari Matsumoto of the Osaka Metropolitan University, the study analyzed the relationship between mJDI12 meals and liver fibrosis progression. 136 patients were taken for the study.
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Among these patients, 49% were female and were among the age group of around 60. The research was in the form of a cross-sectional study among 136 patients who had NAFLD ( Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease). NAFLD is commonly called fatty liver of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis aka NASH.
It is a common disorder and affects around 20% of adults and 5% of children. Obesity is one of the risk factors for fatty liver and studies show that the majority of fatty liver patients are obese.
According to the study, groups with higher mjDI12 were found to have a lower degree of liver fibrosis progression. Among the group, those who consumed more soy products, seafood, and seaweed were shown to have a suppressive effect on the liver fibrosis condition.
Additionally, the study showed that the group that consumed high amounts of soy products had higher levels of muscle mass. And the higher levels of muscle mass indicated a lower degree of liver fibrosis progression.
According to Yoshinari Matsumoto, the study throws light on the dietary treatment patterns for fatty liver. It indicates that the Japanese diet might be effective for NAFLD patients. He added that further interventional studies might strengthen the relationship between the Japanese diet and NAFLD treatment.
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