Refined Carbohydrate Intake Linked to MASLD

A prospective cohort study involving 12,134 Chinese adults examined the link between intake of refined carbohydrates, staple foods, and the risk of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Over a median follow-up of 4.32 years, 4,447 new MASLD cases were identified. Higher total refined carbohydrate intake was associated with increased MASLD risk, with rice intake showing a particularly strong positive association. In contrast, wheat, coarse grains, and yams were linked to a lower risk. These associations were significant in women but not in men. Replacing one daily serving of rice with wheat or coarse grains was associated with reduced MASLD risk, and a dietary pattern characterized by low rice consumption was also protective. The findings highlight the importance of dietary choices, particularly staple food selection, in preventing MASLD among the Chinese population. Source: https://journals.lww.com/ajg/