Alternative Healthy Eating Index may be associated with liver enzymes level among healthy adults

Abstract

Background and aims: Due to documented association between diet intake and liver enzymes level and also suggested role of AHEI in chronic disorders prevention, this study was conducted to investigate the association between AHEI and liver enzymes level. Methods: The study sample consisted of 256 subjects with a mean age of 34.93 (SD8.82) years, 126 men and 139 women. Dietary intake was evaluated by the use of a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire and AHEI-2010 was used to assess adherence to healthy eating index. All baseline blood samples were collected. All chemical and anthropometric measurements were performed at the EMRC laboratory of Shariatei hospital. All statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 16 for Windows. Results: Individuals in the highest tertile of AHEI-2010 were older and had significant lower weight (P=0.01), BMI (P=0.02), TG (P=0.02), total cholesterol (P=0.05), ALT (P=0.02) and AST (P=0.04) and higher fat percent (P=0.02) and AAR (P<0.01). Adherence to AHEI had a negative and significant association with AST after adjusting for age and weight (P value= 0.02 and 95%CI: 0.94, 0.99), while association with ALT was significant after adjusting for age and weight (P value= 0.02 and 95%CI: 0.94, 0.99). After adjusting for sex AHEI was inversely associated with ALT and AST, but it was not significant. Conclusion: In all, adherence to AHEI seems to be associated with lower levels of ALT and AST in participants. Prospective studies are required to confirm these associations.