J Nutr Health.  2022 Dec;55(6):684-698. 10.4163/jnh.2022.55.6.684.

Association of energy intake with handgrip strength in Korean adults with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

• Bu SY

• KMID: 2537858
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4163/jnh.2022.55.6.684

Abstract

Purpose
Recent studies have reported a significant association between skeletal muscle, muscle strength and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The effect of nutrient intake on the prediction of skeletal muscle mass and strength or its suggested correlation with metabolic diseases has been primarily reported in healthy individuals. The current study explores the association between energy intake and handgrip strength (HGS) in individuals with NAFLD.
Methods
Data were obtained from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys 2016-2018. Data from 12,469 participants were extracted and 1,293 men and 1,401 women aged 20 years and older were included in the analyses of patients with NAFLD. The presence of NAFLD was determined using the hepatic steatosis index. To estimate relative skeletal muscle strength, HGS was measured using a digital dynamometer and calculated by adjusting the body mass index of the dominant arm. Study subjects in the NAFLD and nonNAFLD groups were separately categorized according to quartiles of the calculated HGS.
Results
We found that individuals with low (EQ1) energy intake had lower odds of HGS compared to subjects with high (EQ4) energy intake, irrespective of their NAFLD status (p < 0.0001). However, the HGS did not differ based on the level of protein or fat intake ratio. Additionally, the effect of energy intake on HGS was more pronounced in men than in women.
Conclusion
Energy intake was associated with the risk of weak HGS in men with NAFLD. The results indicate that energy intake may be a key factor in nutrition care for NAFLD patients with low muscle function.

Keyword

NAFLD; energy intake; skeletal muscle