Association between Healthy Eating Index-2015 total and metabolic associated fatty liver disease in Americans: a cross-sectional study with U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Background: Utilizing the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) dataset to investigate the relationship between dietary quality, as assessed by the Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015), and the prevalence of metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) among adults in the United States, our analysis revealed that an increased dietary quality was significantly correlated with a reduced risk of MAFLD in the American population. Method: The NHANES dataset, encompassing the years 2017-2018 and comprising 3,557 participants, was incorporated into our analytical framework. Weighted multivariate linear regression model was performed to assess the linear relationship between the HEI-2015 and MAFLD. Dietary intake data were derived from two 24-h dietary recall interviews conducted as part of NHANES. Results: Following multivariable adjustment, the weighted multivariable linear regression models demonstrated a negative correlation between the HEI-2015 total scores and the risk of MAFLD. The weighted logistic regression models revealed that each unit of increased HEI-2015 total value was associated with a 1.2% (95% CI: 0.9%, 1.5%; Conclusion: Elevated dietary quality, as assessed by the total and component food scores of the HEI-2015, was significantly correlated with a diminished risk of MAFLD among participants in the NHANES survey featured in this investigation.