Diet and Meal Timing in Patients With Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Pilot Study
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
About this trial
This is an interventional prevention trial for Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Age ≥ 18 and < 65 years old
- Must provide signed written informed consent and agree to comply with the study protocol
- BMI >25 kg/m²
- Baseline liver fat content of at least 10% as measured by MRI-PDFF
Exclusion Criteria:
- Unclear etiology of liver disease
- Competing etiologies for hepatic steatosis
- Co-existing causes of chronic liver disease according to standard diagnostic testing including, but not restricted to:
- Positive hepatitis B surface antigen
- Positive hepatitis C virus RNA
- Suspicion of drug-induced liver disease
- Alcoholic liver disease
- Autoimmune hepatitis
- Wilson's disease
- Hemochromatosis
- Primary biliary cholangitis or primary sclerosing cholangitis
- Known or suspected hepatocellular carcinoma
- Current or recent history (<5 years) of significant alcohol consumption. For men, significant consumption is defined as >30g of alcohol per day. For women, it is defined as >20g of alcohol per day.
- Compensated and decompensated cirrhosis (clinical and/or histologic evidence of cirrhosis). NASH patients with fibrosis stage = 4 according to the NASH CRN fibrosis staging system are excluded.
- Reduction in weight by ≥ 5% within the prior 90 days
- Current fasting for ≥ 12 hours per day on the majority of days each week
- Pregnant females
- Mental instability or incompetence, such that the validity of the informed consent or ability to be compliant with the study is uncertain
- Inability to perform MRI-PDFF and/or study as defined below
- Inability to medically perform prolonged fasting (i.e. insulin regimen)
Sites / Locations
- Weill Cornell MedicineRecruiting
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Arm 3
Experimental
Active Comparator
Experimental
TRE plus SOC
SOC
Crossover to TRE
Participants will be required to fast each day for 12 weeks and will be given lifestyle recommendations with respect to diet and exercise. The registered dietitian (RD) will obtain a baseline dietary record and provide counseling on the time-restricted eating regimen. The RD will collect the participant's normal diet and exercise routine. Counseling will involve instructing the participant to choose an eight-hour eating window (e.g., 10:00am - 6:00pm) during which the participant will be able to eat. During the 16-house fasting window (e.g., 6:00pm - 10:00 am), the participant is able to drink regular water and black coffee or tea. The RD will be available to answer any questions the participants may have pertaining to the regimen and will instruct the participants regarding standard of care lifestyle recommendations. This includes education of a low-calorie diet (500-1000 kcal) and moderate-intensity exercise.
lifestyle modifications and weight management. Participants will be given lifestyle recommendations with respect to diet and exercise. The registered dietitian (RD) will obtain a baseline dietary record and provide counseling on the time-restricted eating regimen. A baseline dietary record will be assessed prior to fasting initiation with the RD in person. The RD will also collect the subject's normal diet and exercise routine. The RD will instruct the participants regarding standard of care lifestyle recommendations. This includes education of a low-calorie diet (500-1000 kcal) and moderate-intensity exercise.
Participants who have not lost weight or have lost less than or equal to 5% of their body weight, they will be given the option to crossover to the TRE arm. Following the initial 12-week period and end of study MRI, participants would restart another identical 12-week cycle but adhering to the exact steps of the TRE arm including another 4 visits with the registered dieticians (RDs) and an end of study visit with repeat Fibroscan, InBody 770 body composition scan, and MRI-PDFF.