Does the Scandinavian Diet Improve Heart and Liver Health?

SadaNews - A new scientific study has indicated that following a Scandinavian diet rich in fish, vegetables, berries, and legumes can significantly reduce the damage caused by type 2 diabetes and liver diseases.

This condition is medically known as Metabolic Dysfunction-associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD), and it is not associated with excessive alcohol consumption, which is the most common cause of liver problems.

Metabolic Dysfunction-associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) occurs when excess fat accumulates in the liver, according to experts.

Swedish scientists who monitored over 100 people found that this way of eating improves blood sugar control in patients with type 2 diabetes and significantly reduces the amount of fat in the liver, according to the "Gazette Express".

They also found that half of the patients with Metabolic Dysfunction-associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) entered a state of recovery, while levels of harmful cholesterol (LDL) decreased significantly.

Experts described the results as "extremely important" and stated that the Scandinavian diet could be an effective tool for stabilizing the health condition of individuals with type 2 diabetes or Metabolic Dysfunction-associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD).

Ulf Risérus, a clinical nutrition and metabolism expert at Uppsala University and co-author of the study, stated: "The healthy Scandinavian diet provided the best results for participants with diabetes.".

The study showed a reduction in liver fat by more than 20 percent and improved blood sugar control over the course of a year. More than half of the participants experienced recovery from fatty liver disease. This makes these results equally significant for patients with Metabolic Dysfunction-associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) as they are for patients with type 2 diabetes.

Dr. Michael Friden, a nutrition researcher and expert on Metabolic Dysfunction-associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) at Uppsala University and co-author of the study, added: "Although participants were allowed to eat as much as they wanted from the recommended foods, they still lost weight." He continued: "In many previous studies, diets relied on calorie restriction, which works in the short term, but increased hunger makes it difficult to adhere to them in the long term.".

In the study, scientists divided 150 individuals into three groups: the first group followed a low-carbohydrate plant-based diet with low consumption of meat, fish, eggs and dairy products, while the second group followed a healthy Scandinavian diet, and the third group acted as a control group, continuing their usual diet. All participants were asked to limit sugary drinks, sweets, and foods with added sugar.

After a year of follow-up, it was found that the low-carbohydrate plant-based diet and the Scandinavian diet were equally effective in reducing liver fat and harmful cholesterol. However, the Scandinavian diet proved more effective in lowering blood sugar in the long term and had more positive effects on body weight.

The scientists could not determine the exact reason for the Scandinavian diet's impact, but they suggested, in a research paper published in the journal Nature Communications, that the effect may be related to the high consumption of oats and whole wheat bread, along with low use of butter.

Risérus noted that "this is interesting, as it suggests that the diet itself contributed to the reduction of fat deposits in the liver, and perhaps also in improving blood sugar and reducing inflammation.".

Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin or when cells become less sensitive to it, leading to elevated blood sugar levels. Symptoms include fatigue, increased thirst, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss, blurred vision, and slow wound healing.