Potential effects of Asian-adapted Mediterranean diet in depression and anxiety among women with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: a secondary analysis.

Background: Common Mental Disorders (CMDs) such as anxiety and depression have been associated with metabolic dysfunction-Associated steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD). The Mediterranean Diet (MD) has been shown to improve metabolic health and reduce CMDs. We previously reported that a calorie-restricted MD adapted to the Asian food culture has beneficial effects on body composition, liver fat, and cardiometabolic markers in Chinese Singaporean women with MASLD. Objective: This secondary analysis examines the effects of an Asian-adapted MD on the symptoms of anxiety and depression in the same population. Methods: In a double-blind, parallel-design, randomized controlled trial, 84 Chinese- Singaporean females with MASLD were randomly assigned to 1 of the 3 groups for 12 weeks: adapted Asian MD with C15:0 supplementation ( Results: Paired Conclusion: The Asian-adapted MD shows potential benefits for reducing anxiety and depression symptoms, particularly Clinical trial registration: http://clinicaltrials.gov, NCT05259475.