Association between dietary carbohydrate to fiber ratio and metabolic dysfunction associated fatty liver disease in adults: evidence from the NHANES 2017-2020.

This study aimed to explore the association of carbohydrate to fiber ratio (CFR) with metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) in adults. In this study, data from the 2 cycles (2017-2018 and 2019-2020) of the NHANES were used. Univariate and multivariate weighted logistic regression analyses were applied to evaluate the association between CFR and MAFLD. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence levels (CIs) were estimated. Subgroup analysis was further performed in terms of gender, age and comorbidity (diabetes, hypertension). A total of 3180 individuals were included, with 1408 (44.28%) in the non-MAFLD group and 1772 (55.72%) in the MAFLD group. After adjusting different variables, a dietary fiber intake of 11.15-18.40 g was associated with significantly lower odds of MAFLD compared with a fiber intake < 11.15 g (OR = 0.71, 95% CI 0.54-0.93). In contrast to a dietary CFR < 12.58, a CFR > 19.91 was associated with significantly higher odds of MAFLD (OR = 1.57, 95% CI 1.09-2.27). Compared with females with a dietary CFR < 12.58, those with a CFR > 19.91 had significantly increased odds of MAFLD (OR = 1.87, 95% CI 1.29-2.73). Among individuals aged < 65 years, a dietary CFR > 19.91 was associated with higher odds of MAFLD than a dietary CFR < 12.58 (OR = 1.52, 95% CI 1.02-2.25). For participants without diabetes (OR = 1.79, 95% CI 1.26-2.54) or hypertension (OR = 1.93, 95% CI 1.02-3.65), a dietary CFR > 19.91 was associated with elevated odds of MAFLD than a CFR < 12.58. In summary, a higher CFR was associated with significantly greater odds of MAFLD, indicating the negative association between carbohydrate quality and MAFLD. The research would be conducive to metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease treatment.