Compositional diversity and dietary implications of cereal and legume crops as functional resources for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease prevention: a review

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) development is linked to obesity, insulin resistance, and dietary habits. Cereal and legume crops contain various bioactive components with potential of NAFLD prevention. This review synthesizes evidence from preclinical animal studies and human observational and intervention studies on cereal- and legume-derived bioactive compounds, focusing on branched-chain amino acids, fatty acids, dietary fiber and phenolic compounds. These components modulate hepatic lipid accumulation, oxidative stress, inflammation, and metabolic regulation in a context-dependent manner. However, translation into practical dietary strategies is limited by heterogeneous study designs, variable bioavailability, and insufficient consideration of food processing and crop variability. Future studies should evaluate whole-food approaches and crop-based blending strategies, as most available evidence is derived from isolated compounds, purified extracts, or supplementation models. Overall, cereal- and legume-based dietary strategies show potential as complementary approaches for NAFLD prevention and management; however, further clinical studies should confirm their efficacy and establish evidence-based dietary recommendations.