A low-calorie balanced diet improves hepatic steatosis and preserves skeletal muscle in obesity: evidence from clinical and experimental studies.
- 1West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
- 2Data stored and provided by the Department of Clinical Nutrition and Gastroenterology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Sichuan, China. [email protected].
Abstract
Background
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is closely linked to obesity, insulin resistance, and endocrine dysregulation. Although calorie restriction is widely used for metabolic control, it is often accompanied by unintended skeletal muscle loss, which may negatively affect long-term metabolic outcomes. Therefore, identifying a dietary strategy that improves metabolic health while preserving muscle mass is of clinical importance.Methods
This study combined retrospective clinical observations with an in vivo high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mouse model to evaluate the effects of low-calorie balanced diet (LCD). Clinical data were used to assess changes in metabolic parameters and body composition. In parallel, obese mice subjected to LCD intervention were evaluated for body weight, glucose metabolism, hepatic steatosis, and skeletal muscle morphology. Gene expression related to hepatic lipid metabolism and muscle atrophy was analyzed.Results
LCD intervention improved metabolic parameters, reduced body weight gain, and alleviated hepatic lipid accumulation in both clinical observations and the animal model. In HFD-fed mice, LCD improved glucose homeostasis and partially reversed hepatic steatosis. Importantly, skeletal muscle structure was preserved, and the expression of muscle atrophy-related genes, including MSTN, FOXO3a, and MuRF1, was reduced. In the liver, LCD decreased the expression of lipogenic genes such as SREBP-1c, FASN, and ACC, while partially restoring fatty acid oxidation-related genes including PPARα and CPT1α.Conclusion
LCD improves metabolic dysfunction and hepatic steatosis while preserving skeletal muscle integrity in obesity. These findings provide translational evidence supporting LCD as a practical dietary strategy for MASLD management and highlight the importance of coordinated metabolic regulation between liver and skeletal muscle.
Related
- A combined aqueous extract of Psidium guajava L. and Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A. gray improves metabolic homeostasis and preserves intestinal integrity in experimental rabbit colibacillosis
- Disrupted glucocorticoid rhythms selectively induce severe skeletal muscle insulin resistance and uncouple obesity from hepatic steatosis
- Voluntary wheel running selectively preserves skeletal muscle during pancreatic cancer cachexia despite persistent systemic alterations
- Metreleptin improves glucose metabolism and hepatic steatosis in a patient with Werner syndrome and partial lipodystrophy: a case report with review of literature
- P2Y14 receptor agonist impairs, and antagonist improves whole-body glucose homeostasis and liver steatosis
BibTeX
@article{li2026lowcalorie,
title = {{A low-calorie balanced diet improves hepatic steatosis and preserves skeletal muscle in obesity: evidence from clinical and experimental studies.}},
author = {Ruijia Li and Zheng Yang and Yingyi Chen and Yanju Li and Haoyuan Xu and Zhiyong Rao},
journal = {Diabetology \& metabolic syndrome},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.1186/s13098-026-02242-9},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42968138},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - A low-calorie balanced diet improves hepatic steatosis and preserves skeletal muscle in obesity: evidence from clinical and experimental studies.
AU - Ruijia Li
AU - Zheng Yang
AU - Yingyi Chen
AU - Yanju Li
AU - Haoyuan Xu
AU - Zhiyong Rao
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/04
JO - Diabetology & metabolic syndrome
DO - 10.1186/s13098-026-02242-9
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42968138
AB - Background Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is closely linked to obesity, insulin resistance, and endocrine dysregulation. Although calorie restriction is widely used for metabolic control, it is often accompanied by unintended skeletal muscle loss, which may negatively affect long-term metabolic outcomes. Therefore, identifying a dietary strategy that improves metabolic health while preserving muscle mass is of clinical importance.Methods This study combined retrospective clinical observations with an in vivo high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mouse model to evaluate the effects of low-calorie balanced diet (LCD). Clinical data were used to assess changes in metabolic parameters and body composition. In parallel, obese mice subjected to LCD intervention were evaluated for body weight, glucose metabolism, hepatic steatosis, and skeletal muscle morphology. Gene expression related to hepatic lipid metabolism and muscle atrophy was analyzed.Results LCD intervention improved metabolic parameters, reduced body weight gain, and alleviated hepatic lipid accumulation in both clinical observations and the animal model. In HFD-fed mice, LCD improved glucose homeostasis and partially reversed hepatic steatosis. Importantly, skeletal muscle structure was preserved, and the expression of muscle atrophy-related genes, including MSTN, FOXO3a, and MuRF1, was reduced. In the liver, LCD decreased the expression of lipogenic genes such as SREBP-1c, FASN, and ACC, while partially restoring fatty acid oxidation-related genes including PPARα and CPT1α.Conclusion LCD improves metabolic dysfunction and hepatic steatosis while preserving skeletal muscle integrity in obesity. These findings provide translational evidence supporting LCD as a practical dietary strategy for MASLD management and highlight the importance of coordinated metabolic regulation between liver and skeletal muscle.
SN - 1758-5996
ER -