Effect of Indo-Mediterranean Diet on Hepatic Steatosis and Fibrosis in NAFLD Children

NAFLD encompasses the entire spectrum of Fatty liver disease in individuals without significant alcohol consumption, ranging from fatty liver to steatohepatitis to cirrhosis. A high prevalence of NAFLD (62.5%) was observed in overweight/obese Indian adolescent. Lifestyle modification consisting of diet, exercise and weight loss has been advocated to treat patients with NAFLD. European association for study of liver (EASL) guidelines recommends that the macronutrient in the diet should be adjusted according to the Mediterranean diet for weight loss. Mediterranean diet helps to decrease hepatic fat by decreasing lipogenesis, fibrogenesis, inflammation, oxidative stress and by increasing fatty acids beta oxidation.There are numerous studies in adults showing benefit of Mediterranean diet in comparison with other diet in NAFLD, but data on children is very limited. There are no studies in pediatrics showing the benefit of diet intervention in Indian NAFLD children. The aim of this study will be to compare the effect of Indo-Mediterranean diet and calorie restricted on hepatic steatosis and fibrosis in Overweight Indian children and adolescent with Biopsy proven NAFLD.