Reduced risk of liver-related events among patients receiving individualized nutrition-focused remote care in the United States

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Authors: Shaminie J. Athinarayanan, Adam Wolfberg, Priya Shanmugam, Bilal A. Hameed, Maurizio Bonacini
Cited by: 4
References: 44

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and its progressive form, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), can lead to significant morbidity and mortality in adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity. This study evaluated whether participation in an individualized, nutrition-focused telemedicine care model emphasizing carbohydrate reduction (Virta Individualized Nutrition Therapy, VINT) was associated with reduced onset of MASLD, MASH, and advanced liver disease. APPROACH AND RESULTS: Adults with T2D, prediabetes, overweight,or obesity who enrolled in VINT (2015-2024) were identified in the Komodo Healthcare Map and matched 1:1 to usual care (UC) controls (n=5031 per group). Using 3 complementary analytic approaches, incidence and time-to-event analyses were performed for new-onset liver disease. Across all strategies, VINT participants consistently showed a lower incidence of any liver-related diagnosis (27.3 vs. 42.8 per 1000 person-years; HR=0.61, p

Fields of Study & Subjects

Liver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Diet and metabolism studies Diabetes Management and Education

Publication details

Journal / source
Hepatology
Publisher
Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Volume
84
Issue
3
Pages
870–885
Publication date
17 March 2026
Language
EN