Association of Dietary Patterns with Increased Levels of Liver Enzymes: a Cross-sectional Study in Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study

Introduction: Elevated levels of the liver enzymes is a good predictor of non- alcoholic fatty liver disease. The aim of this cross- sectional study was to determine the association of dietary patterns and elevated levels of liver enzymes in Tehranian adults. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on 436 individuals aged≥19 years, who participated in the sixth phase of Tehran lipid and Glucose study. Dietary intakes of the participants were assessed using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Biochemical variables and liver enzyme concentrations including alanine amino transferase (ALT), aspartate amino transferase (AST), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), alkalin phosphatase (ALP) were measured. Factor analysis was used to identify food patterns. To determine the odds ratio 95% confidence interval of increased levels of liver enzymes in relation to dietary patterns, the logistic regression model (adjusted for age, sex and body mass index) was used. Result: Three patterns including western, healthy and traditional were identified with variance of 18.31, 8.24 and 5.83% respectively. For each standard deviation in the western dietary pattern, the odds ratio of elevated levels of ALT and the ratio of ALT/AST increased by 38% (95% CI=1.13-1.69) and 37% (95%CI=1.12–1.68) respectively. Other dietary patterns were not significantly correlated with changes in liver enzymes. Conclusion: The western dietary pattern was associated with elevated levels of ALT and the ratio of ALT/AST.