Nutritional diagnoses and interventions in people with metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease:Cross-sectional study

Abstract

Introduction

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is on rise, in parallel with the increase in obesity and other lifestyle factors. The systematization of nutritional care is an important tool for diagnosing and intervening appropriately in these cases. However, despite the numerous interventions for MAFLD, few studies explore the systematized approach of the Nutrition Care Process.

Objective

To identify the diagnosis and interventions in the nutritional care of people with non-alcoholic hepatic steatosis disease.

Method

Descriptive cross-sectional study, of adults with non-alcoholic hepatic steatosis disease who were treated at a specialized outpatient clinic in a public hospital in southern Brazil. Data was collected from February to August 2023, with sociodemographic and clinical data supporting the diagnoses and nutritional interventions. The data was analyzed descriptively by central tendency, simple and relative frequency.

Results

45 people took part, most of them elderly (78%) and obese (93%). The most frequent nutritional problem was excessive energy (62%) and carbohydrate (57%) intake. The main goals set were to reduce energy and simple carbohydrate intake and increase fiber.

Conclusion

The most common nutritional diagnosis was Excessive Expected Energy Intake and the need for interventions to reduce energy intake, simple carbohydrates and increase fiber, and all patients required nutritional monitoring. The systematization proposed in the Nutrition Care process standardizes the identification of the diagnosis and appropriate nutritional intervention, making it possible to monitor and evaluate the management of results.