Prophylactic effects of nutrition, dietary strategies, exercise, lifestyle and environment on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Xiangyong Hao; Hao Song; Xin Su; Jian Li; Youbao Ye; Cailiu Wang; Xiao Xu; Guanglong Pang; Wenxiu Liu; Zihan Li; Tian Luo

doi:10.1080/07853890.2025.2464223

Prophylactic effects of nutrition, dietary strategies, exercise, lifestyle and environment on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Ann Med. 2025 Dec;57(1):2464223. doi: 10.1080/07853890.2025.2464223. Epub 2025 Feb 12.

Authors

Xiangyong Hao¹, Hao Song², Xin Su^{1

2}, Jian Li^{1

2}, Youbao Ye^{1

2}, Cailiu Wang^{1

2}, Xiao Xu^{1

2}, Guanglong Pang^{1

2}, Wenxiu Liu^{1

2}, Zihan Li², Tian Luo³

Affiliations

¹ Department of General Surgery, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Lanzhou, China.
² Department of clinical medicine, The First Clinical Medical College of Gansu University of Chinese Medicine (Gansu Provincial Hospital), Lanzhou, China.
³ The Institute for Clinical Research and Translational Medicine, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Lanzhou, China.

Abstract

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic liver disease and its prevalence has risen sharply. However, whether nutrition, dietary strategies, exercise, lifestyle and environment have preventive value for NAFLD remains unclear.

Methods: Through searching 4 databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Embase and the Cochrane Library) from inception to January 2025, we selected studies about nutrition, dietary strategies, exercise, lifestyle and environment in the prevention of NAFLD and conducted a narrative review on this topic.

Results: Reasonable nutrient intake encompassing macronutrients and micronutrients have an independent protective relationship with NAFLD. Besides, proper dietary strategies including mediterranean diet, intermittent fasting diet, ketogenic diet, and dietary approaches to stop hypertension diet have their inhibitory effects on the developmental process of NAFLD. Moreover, right exercises including walking, jogging, bicycling, and swimming are recommended for the prevention of NAFLD because they could effectively reduce weight, which is an important risk factor for NAFLD, and improve liver function. In addition, embracing a healthy lifestyle including reducing sedentary behavior, not smoking, sleeping well and brushing teeth regularly is integral since it not only could reduce the risk of NAFLD but also significantly contribute to overall prevention and control. Finally, the environment, including the social and natural environments, plays a potential role in NAFLD prevention.

Conclusion: Nutrition, dietary strategies, exercise, lifestyle and environment play an important role in the prevention of NAFLD. Moreover, this review offers comprehensive prevention recommendations for people at high risk of NAFLD.

Keywords: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; dietary strategies; environment; exercise; lifestyle; nutrition; prevention.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Diet
Diet, Ketogenic
Diet, Mediterranean
Dietary Approaches To Stop Hypertension
Environment
Exercise* / physiology
Humans
Life Style*
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease* / epidemiology
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease* / etiology
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease* / prevention & control
Nutritional Status
Risk Factors

Grants and funding

This work was supported by Natural Science Foundation of Gansu Province (Grant No.: 23JRRA1313), Natural Science Foundation for Young Scientists and the Science & Technology Planning Project of Gansu Province (Grant No.: 18JR3RA058), Gansu Province Youth Innovative Talents Project (Grant No.: 2021LQGR15), Health Industry Scientific Research Program of Gansu Province (Grant No.: GSWSKY2020-06), and Research Projects of Gansu Provincial Hospital (Grant No.: 19SYPYB-7, 18GSSY3-1).