A “healthy diet-optimal sleep” lifestyle pattern is inversely associated with liver stiffness and insulin resistance in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Objectives: Several lifestyle habits have been described as risk factors for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Given that both healthy and unhealthy habits tend to cluster, the aim of this study was to identify lifestyle patterns and explore their potential associations with clinical characteristics of individuals with NAFLD. Methods: One hundred-thirty-six consecutive patients with ultrasound-proven NAFLD were included. Diet and physical activity level were assessed through appropriate questionnaires. Habitual night sleep hours and duration of midday naps (siesta) were recorded. Optimal sleep duration was defined as sleep hours ≥7 and ≤9 hours/day. Lifestyle patterns were identified using principal component analysis. Results: Eight components were derived explaining 67% of total variation of lifestyle characteristics. Lifestyle pattern 3, namely high consumption of low-fat dairy products, vegetables, fish and optimal sleep duration was negatively associated with insulin resistance (β=-1.66, P=0.008) and liver stiffness (β=-1.62, P=0.05), after controlling for age, sex, BMI, energy intake, smoking habits, adiponectin and tumor necrosis factor-a. Lifestyle pattern 1, namely high consumption of full-fat dairy products, refined cereals, potatoes, red meat and high television viewing time was positively associated with insulin resistance (β=1.66, P=0.005), although this association was weakened after adjusting for adiponectin and tumor necrosis factor-a. Conclusion: A “healthy diet-optimal sleep” lifestyle pattern was beneficially associated with insulin resistance and liver stiffness, in NAFLD patients, independently of body weight status and energy intake.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author