Abstract
BACKGROUND: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the most recent definition for steatotic liver disease associated with metabolic syndrome. The results of recent metabolic and observational studies suggest a potential beneficial effect of food-derived flavonoids in some chronic diseases, including MASLD. The study aims to evaluate the protective role of diet flavonoids in subjects with and without MASLD belonging to a cohort living in the South of Italy. METHODS: The study cohort comprised 1297 participants assessed in the NUTRIHEP cohort (2015-2018), divided into two groups, based on presence or absence of MASLD. RESULTS: The results indicated statistically significant flavonoid consumption, showing a protective role against MASLD, at an optimal concentration of 165 mg/day, with an OR value of 0.63, (p = 0.001, 95% C.I.: 0.47; 0.83 t). The OR remained almost unchanged when the intake increased from 165 mg per day to 185 mg per day. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, our study results show a protective role of flavonoids against MASLD. Consuming only 165 mg of flavonoids daily can activate this protective function, reducing the risk of MASLD.