Patient characteristics
This study included 696 subjects, including 483 males (69.3966%), 213 females (30.6034%). 162 subjects (23.2759%) were diagnosed with NAFLD. The characteristics of the study population can be seen in Table 1.
The relationship between NAFLD and various factors
The effects of nut intake, intake frequency and unsaturated fatty acids intake on NAFLD can be seen in Table 2. Only nut intake (OR= 0.97678, 95% IC [0.95581, 0.99822], P=0.033894. RR= 0.9812) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (OR= 1.20633,95% IC [1.12796, 1.29014], P<0.000001. RR= 1.1601) had an effect on NAFLD. Daily energy intake, frequency of nut intake, and monounsaturated fatty acids were not statistically significant.
Effects of nut intake and polyunsaturated fatty acid intake on NAFLD
The smooth curve of the influence of nut intake on NAFLD was shown in Figure 1a, which decreased from the beginning to 2.82 and then began to rise, indicating that the risk of NAFLD decreased first and then increased with nut intake. The risk of NAFLD was the lowest when nut intake was 2.82 g/day. The smoothing curve of the influence of polyunsaturated fatty acids on NAFLD is shown in Figure 1b. The risk of NAFLD increased with the increase of the intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids and reached the peak at 30.02g/day, indicating that the risk of NAFLD was highest when the intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids was 30.02g/day.
Stratified analysis of nut intake
The effect of nut intake on NAFLD in different genders was shown in Figure 2 a. In women, the risk of NAFLD increased with the increase of nut intake, while in men, the risk decreased with the increase of nut intake, with a fluctuation of 2.8 g/day. This could mean that men were better suited to nuts than women.
The influence of nut intake on NAFLD in patients with hyperlipidemia was shown in Figure 2b. In patients without hyperlipidemia, the risk of NAFLD decreased first and then increased with the increase of nut intake, and the inflection point of the curve was 40.25g/day. In patients with hyperlipidemia, the risk of NAFLD decreased with the intake of nuts. This means nuts are better for people with hyperlipidemia.
The influence of nut intake on NAFLD in hypertension was shown in Figure 2c. Nut intake in hypertensive patients decreased first and then increased; among hypertensive patients, nut intake of 19.75g/day was associated with the highest risk of NAFLD. Regardless of whether the population has hypertension, 2.82g/day is still recommended for nuts
The effect of nut intake on NAFLD in diabetes was shown in Figure 2d. The risk of NAFLD was lowest in patients with diabetes when nut intake was 3.74g/day, and lowest in patients without diabetes when nut intake was 2.82g/day.
Stratified analysis of polyunsaturated fatty acid intake.
The influence of polyunsaturated fatty acid intake on NAFLD can be seen in Figure 3. The risk of NAFLD increased with the increase of intake in women, but decreased first and then increased in men, reaching the highest at 30.02g/day. For people without hypertension, hyperlipidemia and diabetes, the curve reached the highest at about 30.02g/day, while for people with hypertension, hyperlipidemia and diabetes, the risk of NALFD increased with the increase of the intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids.