Title : Association between red meat consumption and risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: A meta-analysis and dose–response study
Abstract:
The relationship between red meat consumption and the risk of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) remains controversial. This study aimed to investigate the association and dose–response relationship between red meat intake, including processed and unprocessed red meat, and the risk of NAFLD. A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, and CENTRAL was conducted from inception to February 2022 to identify observational studies assessing red meat consumption and NAFLD risk. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed to pool Odds Ratios (ORs) and 95% Confidence Intervals (CIs). Linear and nonlinear dose–response analyses were applied to explore intake–risk relationships. Ten eligible studies were included. Higher consumption of total red meat was significantly associated with an increased risk of NAFLD (OR=1.27, 95% CI: 1.07–1.50). Similar associations were observed for processed red meat (OR=1.20, 95% CI: 1.04–1.30) and unprocessed red meat (OR=1.28, 95% CI: 1.05–1.55). A significant linear dose–response relationship was identified for processed red meat, with each 25-g/day increment associated with an 11.1% higher risk of NAFLD, while a nonlinear association was observed for unprocessed red meat intake. These findings suggest that higher red meat consumption, particularly processed red meat, may be associated with an increased risk of NAFLD. Further well-designed prospective studies are warranted to clarify causal relationships and underlying mechanisms.
Keywords: Red Meat, Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Meta-Analysis, Dose–Response, Clinical Nutrition.
