Determination of the Effect of Extreme Dietary Carbohydrate Restriction on Hepatic Glucose Production
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
About this trial
This is an interventional basic science trial for Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
The study will compare sources of hepatic glucose in individuals age 18 to 65 years matched for age, body mass index (BMI), gender, and ethnicity. Enrollment numbers will be higher to accommodate attrition and matching. The genders will be equally represented in both cohorts. The ethnicity of the participants will be chosen to match the general population in the Dallas area. Spanish speaking subjects will be eligible for enrollment. No cultural or ethnic background will be systematically excluded. The present study will be restricted to subjects who are overweight (25>BMI<35). All subjects will have a normal nutritional status and minimal ethanol intake (< 10 g/d). Because activity level is known to alter hepatic metabolism, the subjects chosen will be those who do not participate in regular exercise above the amount of activity associated with daily living. Participation in concurrent studies will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Informed consent will be obtained from all participants.
The investigators will also enroll subjects diagnosed with NAFLD from Dr. Browning's clinical hepatology practice.
Based upon the need to study the effects of macronutrient manipulation under a variety of conditions, the targeted enrollment for this protocol will be open-ended. This will allow the present application to act as the basis for studying hepatic metabolism under a variety of conditions. The enrollment target is 80 subjects.
Exclusion Criteria:
In order to eliminate confounding variables, the participants chosen will have to be in stable health, on no medications known to alter hepatic glucose metabolism, on no weight loss diet or diet pills within the previous 6 months, and without baseline ketonuria. The present study will be restricted to subjects who are overweight (25>BMI<35). Subjects with a history of renal calculi, gout/hyperuricemia, renal insufficiency, will also be excluded from the study. Pregnant women, children, and institutionalized individuals will also be excluded. NAFLD subjects with metal in or on their body will be excluded.
Sites / Locations
- UT Southwestern Medical Center
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
Active Comparator
Low Carbohydrate Diet
Low Calorie Diet
Subjects are placed on a low carbohydrate diet where only 5% of energy intake is derived from dietary carbohydrate.
Subjects have there caloric intake reduced to 1200 or 1500 kcal/day (women and men respectively).