Galactose intake is related to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to assess the association between galactose intake and risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Design/methodology/approach In total, 196 newly diagnosed patients with NAFLD and 803 controls were recruited from a referral hepatology clinic. Dietary intakes were assessed using a validated and reliable food frequency questionnaire. Dietary intakes of galactose were compared between cases and controls. Findings Median (interquartile range) of dietary galactose intake was 2.24 (1.36-3.53) g/day for all subjects. In age and sex adjusted-model, subjects in the highest tertile of galactose intake had more than three times higher risk of NAFLD compared with those in the lowest tertile (odds ratio [OR]: 3.05; 95 per cent confidence interval [CI]: 2.02-4.54), (p-value < 0.001). Additionally controlling for body mass index (BMI), physical activity, energy intake and dietary lactose intake, the direct association between galactose intake and NAFLD remained significant (OR: 2.77; 95 per cent CI: 1.55-4.95), (p-value < 0.001). Originality/value This study was the first one to assess the association between galactose intake and risk of NAFLD.