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TOPLINE:

Augmenting an intake of vitamin E, via both diet and supplements, may help prevent metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), particularly in adults without hyperlipidemia, new data showed.

METHODOLOGY:

• MASLD (formerly known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease) is a common chronic liver disease, and its severe form — metabolic dysfunction–associated steatohepatitis (formerly nonalcoholic steatohepatitis) — is associated with oxidative stress. As an antioxidant, vitamin E may protect against MASLD.
• Researchers analyzed data for 6122 adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2017 to 2020.
• Information on dietary, supplementary, and total vitamin E intake was obtained from two 24-hour dietary recall interviews.
• The extent of hepatic steatosis was measured by liver ultrasound transient elastography, with MASLD defined as a controlled attenuated parameter threshold of ≥ 288 dB/m.

TAKEAWAY:

• After adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, adults with MASLD had lower dietary and total intake of vitamin E, and dietary and total vitamin E intake was inversely associated with MASLD outcome.
• Adults in the top quartile of dietary vitamin E intake had approximately 40% lower odds of MASLD (odds ratio [OR], 0.60; P = .0091).
• Vitamin E supplement use was associated with 34% reduced odds of MASLD (OR, 0.66; P = .0249), whereas adults in the top quartile of total vitamin E intake had a 33% lower likelihood of MASLD (OR, 0.67; P = .0538).
• The findings were robust to sensitivity analysis, and the effects were stronger in those without hyperlipidemia.

IN PRACTICE:

"Increasing dietary sources of vitamin E is beneficial for preventing [MASLD], particularly in individuals without hyperlipidemia," the researchers concluded.

SOURCE:

The study, with first author Xiangjun Qi, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China, was published online in Scientific Reports.

LIMITATIONS:

Causality cannot be determined due to the cross-sectional study design. Dietary recalls may not fully reflect the dietary status of participants, which may influence assessment of exposure to some extent.

DISCLOSURES:

The study had no specific funding. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.