Fatty liver disease: How you cook red meat may matter more than how much you eat - with methods linked to 41% lower risk

Solen Le Net
Fri, 01 May 2026 11:19:50 +0000

In today's world, a large portion of our waking hours is spent making decisions about what we eat and few foods are more criticised than red meat.

But new findings suggest red meat bears no significant overall connection to the development of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, commonly known as MASLD or fatty liver disease.

The investigation, led by Davide Guido at the National Institute of Gastroenterology "Saverio de Bellis" in Bari, Italy, examined 1,192 adults through a population-based survey.

Participants completed a validated dietary questionnaire, with MASLD diagnosed through ultrasound imaging. Nearly half of those studied - 49.2 per cent - were found to have the condition.

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Women comprised 57.3 per cent of the cohort, whilst the research was published in the journal Nutrients.

The study uncovered notable disparities between the sexes regarding fatty liver disease prevalence.

Men demonstrated a considerably higher rate of MASLD at 54.6 per cent, compared with 45.2 per cent among female participants - a statistically significant difference.

While most consumption levels showed no meaningful association with disease risk, one exception emerged for male participants.

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Men who consumed between 75 and 90 grams of red meat daily faced significantly elevated odds of developing the condition.

This particular intake range represented the sole statistically significant link identified throughout the analysis.

"Our findings indicate a significant gender-related differentiation in red meat consumption preferences, including both the specific types favoured and the preparation methods employed," the researchers noted.

The manner in which red meat was prepared proved equally significant to the findings.

Boiling red meat was linked to a 28.9 per cent reduced odds of developing fatty liver disease across all participants.

For women specifically, consuming meatballs made with red meat corresponded to 41.6 per cent lower odds of MASLD - both results achieving statistical significance.

The researchers acknowledged certain constraints in their work.

The cross-sectional design precluded any conclusions about causation, while dietary information relied upon participants' own recollections, potentially introducing bias.

Additionally, the absence of physical activity data represented a notable limitation, given exercise's established influence on fatty liver outcomes.

Managing the condition centres largely on lifestyle changes, specially adherance to a Mediterranean-style diet, weight loss of five to 10 per cent and regular exercise.

As a rule of thumb, patients are encouraged to increase their intake of vegetables, fruits and healthy fats while eliminating sugar drinks and limiting their intake of refined carbohydrates.