Concerns are often raised about the potential of fruit to increase liver fat due to its high sugar — particularly fructose — content.
A randomized controlled trial found that a fruit-rich diet (9.58 grams of fruit per kilogram of body weight per day) did not affect body weight or liver fat in healthy participants.[1]
In contrast, another randomized controlled trial found that a fruit-rich diet (about 7 servings of fruit per day) increased liver fat in participants with NAFLD. However, the participants also gained 7 kilograms of body weight, on average,[2] so all this study indicates is that a hypercaloric diet increases liver fat; it says nothing about whether a high intake of fruit is detrimental for people with NAFLD.
As it stands, there is an absence of evidence to indicate that a fruit-rich diet has adverse effects on liver health. In contrast, fruit can be an important component of a healthy diet: it’s rich in vitamins, minerals, polyphenols, and fiber, and the consumption of multiple servings of fruit per day is consistently associated with a reduced risk of several diseases.[3]
References
- ^Agebratt C, Ström E, Romu T, Dahlqvist-Leinhard O, Borga M, Leandersson P, Nystrom FHA Randomized Study of the Effects of Additional Fruit and Nuts Consumption on Hepatic Fat Content, Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Basal Metabolic Rate.PLoS One.(2016)
- ^Alami F, Alizadeh M, Shateri KThe effect of a fruit-rich diet on liver biomarkers, insulin resistance, and lipid profile in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a randomized clinical trial.Scand J Gastroenterol.(2022-Oct)
- ^Wallace TC, Bailey RL, Blumberg JB, Burton-Freeman B, Chen CO, Crowe-White KM, Drewnowski A, Hooshmand S, Johnson E, Lewis R, Murray R, Shapses SA, Wang DDFruits, vegetables, and health: A comprehensive narrative, umbrella review of the science and recommendations for enhanced public policy to improve intake.Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr.(2020)