Beverages and Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD): Think before you drink

• Published in: Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland) Scotland), 2021-05, Vol.40 (5), p.2508-2519
• Main Authors: Chhimwal, Jyoti, Patial, Vikram, Padwad, Yogendra
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Beverage; Fibrosis; Inflammation; NAFLD; NASH; Sugar-sweetened beverages
• ISSN: 0261-5614; 1532-1983
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clnu.2021.04.011

Beverages and Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) both the terms are associated with westernized diet and sedentary lifestyle. Throughout recent decades, dietary changes have boosted demand of beverages to meet the liquid consumption needs, among which rising consumption of several calorie-rich beverages have increased the risk of fatty liver disease. Meanwhile, certain beverages have capacity to deliver many unanticipated health benefits thereby reducing the burden of NAFLD and metabolic diseases. The present review therefore addresses the increasing interconnections between beverages intake among population, dietary patterns and the overall effect of these beverage on the development and prevention of NAFLD. Methods In the present review, some frequently consumed beverage groups have been analyzed in light of their role in the advancement and prevention of NAFLD, including sugar sweetened, hot and alcoholic beverages. The nutritional composition of different beverages makes the progression of NAFLD distinctive. The ingestion of sugar-rich beverages has demonstrated the metabolic burden and in all cases, raises the risk of NAFLD, while intake of coffee and tea has decreased this risk without any significant adverse effects. In some cases, low to moderate alcohol intake has been shown to minimize the risk of advanced fibrosis and NAFLD-mortality. Together, this review discusses and supports work on new dietary approaches and clinical studies to accomplish nutrition-oriented NAFLD care by improving the drinking habits. •Beverages influence NAFLD-linked lipogenesis, β-oxidation, inflammation & fibrosis.•Sugar-sweetened beverages are likely to be key driving factors of NAFLD.•Regular coffee and tea intake reduces metabolic burden and NAFLD prevalence.•Impact of alcoholic beverages on NAFLD and associated disorders is discussed.•Lifestyle modifications and nutritional approaches are desirable to mitigate NAFLD.