The Impact of Dietary Sugars and Saturated Fats on Body and Liver Fat in a Healthcare Worker Population

Abstract

Background: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a prevalent disease influenced by dietary factors. While high sugar and fat consumption are associated with weight gain, their specific impact on liver fat accumulation remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between sugar and saturated fat intake and liver and body fat composition. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2021 to February 2023 in workers from a tertiary care center in Mexico City. Anthropometric measurements, body composition (bioelectrical impedance analysis and skinfold assessment), physical activity, and liver fat (vibration-controlled transient elastography) were measured. Dietary intake was assessed with a 24-h recall questionnaire and analyzed with specialized software. Linear and logistic regression models were fitted to study the relationship between nutrient intake and liver/body fat. Results: A total of 534 healthcare workers (median age: 41.5 years, 61.4% female) were included. Hepatic steatosis was present in 42.5% of participants. Higher carbohydrate intake was associated with increased liver fat (β = 0.23, 95% CI: 0.02–0.45), with each additional 15 g of carbohydrates increasing the odds of steatosis by 5% (OR = 1.053, 95% CI: 1.006–1.102). Fat and sugar intake were associated with higher body fat but not liver fat. Conclusions: Carbohydrate intake was linked to liver fat accumulation, whereas fat and sugar intake were primarily associated with body fat. Tailored dietary recommendations could be informed by these findings. Prospective dietary assessment methods and a nutritional geometry approach could be applied in future studies.