A sufficient intake of potassium in the diet effectively reduces the risk of developing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and advanced liver fibrosis. The additional intake of vitamin C appears to further enhance this protective effect.
A new study by experts at Guangzhou Medical University in China examined the connection between dietary potassium intake and the occurrence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and advanced liver fibrosis. The results can be read in the “International Journal of Endocrinology”.
Connection with potassium intake?
For the study, the researchers used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2007 to 2018. Using various analyses, they determined the relationship between dietary potassium intake and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and advanced liver fibrosis.
In addition, so-called interaction tests were carried out to estimate possible interaction effects, the team reports. The final analysis included a total of 9,443 participants with an average age of 50.4 years, who were divided into four different groups based on their potassium intake.
How much potassium was consumed?
In the first group, participants consumed between 14.5 and 1,831 milligrams of potassium, in the second group two between 1,831.5 and 2,401 milligrams, in the third group between 2,401.5 and 3,106.5 milligrams, and in the fourth group between 3,107 and 22,665.5 milligrams, the team reports.
The experts found that the average daily dietary intake of potassium was 2,556.49 milligrams and the average daily intake of vitamin C was 82.93 milligrams.
Potassium reduces risk
Overall, the results show that there is a negative association between dietary potassium intake and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and advanced liver fibrosis, the researchers explain.
According to the experts, participants in the fourth group, who consumed a lot of potassium through their diet, had a 31 percent lower risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease than participants in the first group.
In addition, participants in group four had a 42 percent reduced risk of developing advanced liver fibrosis compared to people in group one, the experts said.
Vitamin C enhances the effect
In addition, the researchers found a so-called interaction effect of vitamin C intake and potassium intake on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Overall, the results show that dietary potassium intake is inversely associated with the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and advanced liver fibrosis and that high dietary vitamin C intake enhances this protective effect, the researchers conclude.
Which foods contain a lot of potassium?
If you want to consume more potassium through your diet, you can eat the following foods, which, according to a statement from AOK, contain particularly high levels of potassium.
Bananas, avocados, soybeans, dried apricots, peaches and pistachios are suitable, for example, as they contain particularly high levels of potassium. Foods such as dates, kale, Brussels sprouts, lamb's lettuce and boiled potatoes with the skin on are also good sources of potassium, reports the AOK.
Ensure adequate potassium intake
The study highlights the importance of ensuring adequate potassium intake through the diet in order to effectively reduce various health problems and in particular the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and advanced liver fibrosis. (as)