(P17-071-25) Sex- and Race/Ethnicity-Specific Associations Between Food Insecurity and Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease in American Adults

Objectives: The study aimed to examine the association between food insecurity and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) across different race/ethnicity or gender using the 2017-March 2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

Methods: The current study included 6618 participants aged ≥19 years. Steatotic liver disease was determined through transient elastography examination. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for MASLD associated with food insecurity were estimated using logistic regression.

Results: Compared to full food security, very low adult food security was associated with increased odds of MASLD (OR=1.35, 95% CI, 1.05-1.73). There were associations of very low adult food security with higher odds of MASLD in women (OR= 1.82, 95% CI, 1.08-3.09) but not in men, with statistically significant interaction between adult food insecurity and gender (p interaction = 0.038). Similarly, the positive association of adult food insecurity with MASLD was mainly found in non-Hispanic Whites and other race, but not in non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, and non-Hispanic Asian groups. Furthermore, mediation analyses suggested that added sugar intake and intake of whole fruits and vegetables excluding potatoes partially mediated the associations of adult food insecurity with MASLD.

Conclusions: The positive association between food insecurity and MASLD might be dependent on race/ethnicity and gender. Increases in whole fruits and vegetables intake and reduction added sugar consumption may partially reduce the impact of food insecurity on MASLD development.

Funding Sources: No