Nutrition as Medicine: Addressing MASLD and Beyond Through Functional Diets

As healthcare evolves toward more holistic, preventive, and patient-centered approaches, nutrition is increasingly recognized as a cornerstone of clinical care. From managing chronic diseases to supporting recovery, what we eat has a direct impact on how we heal. Hospitals and healthcare systems worldwide are beginning to integrate nutrition-based strategies not just as support, but as targeted interventions.

In this context, functional foods—those offering physiological benefits beyond basic nutrition—are gaining traction. One such area of concern is Metabolic dysfunction-associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD), a condition closely linked to poor dietary habits and metabolic disorders. With no approved pharmacological cure, MASLD demands a nutrition-first approach.

We delve into the vital role of nutrition in healthcare settings and explores how specially formulated functional foods can play a transformative role in managing liver diseases like MASLD. Backed by ongoing research and a growing body of clinical evidence, these innovations point toward a future where food truly becomes medicine.

Functional foods for management of Metabolic dysfunction Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD)

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), formerly known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), has emerged as a global health concern, paralleling the rise in obesity, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes. Characterized by hepatic fat accumulation in the absence of significant alcohol intake, MASLD is closely linked to metabolic syndrome and increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and liver-related complications. Traditional pharmacological management is limited, and growing attention has shifted towards dietary and lifestyle interventions. In this context, functional foods—those enriched with health-promoting ingredients beyond basic nutrition—have gained prominence as a preventive and therapeutic strategy for MASLD.

Recent innovations in functional food development have led to the creation of health-conscious snack options tailored for metabolic health and liver support. These include fruit rolls and jellies fortified with antioxidants, polyphenols, and dietary fiber to combat oxidative stress and reduce hepatic fat accumulation. Similarly, low glycemic index (GI) baked products such as crackers, pizza bases, cookies, and tarts have been formulated using whole grains, legumes, and plant-based nutraceuticals. These ingredients not only help modulate postprandial glucose response but also support liver detoxification pathways and improve lipid metabolism.

Such functional foods offer a practical and sustainable approach to MASLD management, particularly by improving dietary compliance in populations with busy lifestyles. As food becomes increasingly recognized as a tool for precision health, integrating nutraceuticals into everyday snacks represents a promising strategy to mitigate the metabolic and hepatic consequences of modern dietary patterns. Continued research into bioavailability, consumer acceptance, and long-term health outcomes will be key to advancing this field and translating functional foods into mainstream MASLD care.

Role of nutrition in healthcare settings

Hospital malnutrition is a common yet often under-recognized issue among inpatients, requiring early identification and intervention to improve clinical outcomes. In response to this challenge, a hospital-based team introduced an innovative approach by modifying existing nutritional screening tools to better suit the local context and patient needs. Using the Nutrition Care Process (NCP) framework—which includes assessment, diagnosis, intervention, and monitoring—the team emphasized the importance of conducting nutritional screening at the point of hospital admission. Recognizing that many existing tools require adaptation to reflect the unique characteristics of the patient population, the team developed a modified screening tool rooted in the guidelines of the Indian Association for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (IAPEN).

This modified tool was specifically designed for use in Indian hospital settings, with a focus on improving the accuracy and timeliness of identifying patients at risk of malnutrition. To assess its effectiveness, the team compared it with widely used tools such as the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) and Nutrition Risk Screening 2002 (NRS-2002).

The study evaluated the tool’s reliability, validity, and clinical utility across a diverse inpatient population. Results demonstrated that the modified tool was both reliable and effective in identifying at-risk patients early, thus facilitating the implementation of timely and appropriate nutritional care plans. This innovative adaptation represents a significant step forward in the nutritional management of hospitalized patients in India.