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Research has suggested that diets rich in carbohydrates could increase the risk of liver damage. Heavy consumption of high-glycaemic foods, namely white rice, potatoes and pasta, appear to increase one’s risk of developing a fatty liver. These conclusions were reached by scientists at Boston Children’s Hospital, Massachusetts and have recently been published in the medical journal, Obesity. Mice fed a high-carbohydrate diet were found to have a higher risk of developing the condition. In comparison, mice fed a different diet with an identical caloric content showed no sign of developing fatty-liver syndrome. These findings are particularly alarming given the fact that most people in the Western world have diets that are high in carbohydrates.

So what exactly is fatty-liver syndrome? Simply put , it’s the build up of fatty tissue in the liver. Sufferers, however, remain oblivious to the condition, as there are few physical symptoms. As the Boston researchers found, mice fed a high-carb diet didn’t always demonstrate evidence of overall weight gain. However, the condition can result in liver failure during later life. A low GI (glycaemic index) diet therefore appears to be the key to maintaining a healthy liver. Low GI foods include most fresh fruits, raw (especially leafy) vegetables, and rye or granary bread. These foods lead to smaller and slower spikes in blood sugar and hence insulin (the chemical which tells the body to generate fat).

Researchers hope that their findings will increase awareness of the condition. According to Dr. David Ludwig, the project’s lead scientist:

“This is a silent but dangerous epidemic. Just as type 2 diabetes exploded into our consciousness in the 1990s, so we think fatty liver will in the coming decade.”

There is already significant evidence to suggest that a diet rich in high GI foods can lead to the early onset of type 2 diabetes. According to a spokesperson for the British Diabetics Association:

“There is a place for high-glycaemic carbohydrates in moderation as part of a balanced diet, but there’s good research that eating too much can increase the risk of insulin resistance - and this can lead to serious health problems. However, this study is interesting, as there is other evidence that people who eat a diet rich in high-glycaemic food are more likely to have more body fat.”

This entry was posted on Friday, September 21st, 2007 at 8:16 pm and is filed under Health. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.