BACKGROUND: Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) presently poses a threat to approximately 24% of the global population. The consumption of healthy diets rich in an abundant assortment of vegetables has been scientifically validated to mitigate the progression of MAFLD. However, it remains uncertain whether all categories of vegetables confer benefits for MAFLD. The objective of this study is to investigate the impact of different types of vegetables on MAFLD, aiming to provide a scientific basis for developing more appropriate dietary recommendations for individuals at high risk of MAFLD. METHODS: We investigated the associations between various types of vegetable consumption and the risk of MAFLD, utilizing data sourced from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2017-2018 cycle. Employing multiple logistic regression and subgroup analyses, we estimated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: Our analysis encompassed a total of 3162 participants. Remarkably, heightened intake of dark green vegetables demonstrated an innovative association with reduced odds of MAFLD (OR = 0.54
95% CI: 0.36-0.81
p-value = 0.01), while other kinds of vegetable shown no significant association with MAFLD in the full adjusted model (all p-vale >
0.05). In the subgroup analysis, a prominent inverse correlation between the consumption of dark green vegetables and MAFLD was discerned among female and non-Hispanic white people with higher educational attainment. CONCLUSIONS: Our study conclusively demonstrates that a heightened intake of dark green vegetables is linked to diminished odds of MAFLD.