Nutrition & DietIntermittent Fasting Cuts Liver Fat in Fatty Liver Disease, Meta-Analysis Finds
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), formerly known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, affects millions worldwide and currently has limited dietary treatment options. Researchers pooled data from eight clinical studies involving 389 patients to assess whether intermittent fasting could meaningfully reduce liver fat. The results were encouraging: intermittent fasting significantly lowered liver fat content and improved ultrasound-measured liver steatosis scores. It also reduced body weight, BMI, and triglyceride levels. These findings suggest intermittent fasting may be a practical, low-cost dietary strategy for slowing MASLD progression. However, the small number of included studies and modest total sample size mean larger, well-controlled trials are needed before firm clinical recommendations can be made.
