Title of project

Liver Health in the Nordics: Innovative Approaches to Unraveling the Impact of Nordic Diets on Severe Liver Diseases

Abstract

Cohort studies have shown a benefit on severe liver disease from dietary patterns similar to Nordic dietary patterns when comparing high versus low adherence to these diets. However, several methodological limitations of these observational studies preclude a meaningful causal interpretation compared to evidence that could have been obtained from a randomized trial, such as relevant public and patient health diet comparisons of sustained adherence to Nordic diets over time.

Novel causal inference methods will be used to emulate hypothetical target trials of sustained adherence to two different Nordic diets compared to the habitual diet of Danish and Swedish populations, in a primary prevention setting. Subgroups will be formed using novel machine learning methods to investigate effect heterogeneity from the trial emulations. Results from these analyses will be integrated into a mobile app for clinicians and public health professionals to use for individually tailored dietary advice.

Using new methodological advances in causal inference in the field of liver disease nutrition will make it possible to ask more complex causal questions of diet and liver disease, such as how many cases of major adverse liver outcomes (MALO) could be prevented in the population if their diet shifted from their habitual diet to a Nordic diet. This project will further use novel methods to investigate effect heterogeneity of diet and MALO, allowing for a more targeted approach to nutrition recommendations.