
Nutritional Counseling vs. Nutritional Supplements for NASH - a Randomized Prospective, Open Label...
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver DiseaseFatty Liver1 moreThe main aim of the study is to determine if an oral supplementation of the LCS has a beneficial effect by itself or even enhances the beneficial effects of a moderate life-style intervention on the progression of NAFLD in humans.

Low Carbohydrate Diet: The Effects on Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Obese Teens With Metabolic...
NAFLDFatty Liver2 moreConcurrent with the rising prevalence of childhood obesity, the co-morbid condition of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become the leading cause of chronic liver disease among children. NAFLD is characterized by accrual of excess triglycerides (TG) in the liver that leads to inflammation, fibrosis, and cirrhosis. One-third of the pediatric population has NAFLD, a disease strongly associated with insulin-resistance and metabolic-syndrome (Met-S). NAFLD is predicted to become the leading cause of liver transplantation in adults by 2030. Current understanding of NAFLD indicates that presence of excess TG in liver is an absolute requirement for disease progression. First-line therapy for NAFLD is focused on decreasing adiposity and improving insulin sensitivity through diet and exercise. Recent adult data indicate that dietary carbohydrate-restriction is more effective at reducing hepatic TG-content than traditional calorie-restriction. Few studies have been conducted to establish resolution of hepatic steatosis by any intervention. Such studies in pediatrics are primarily limited by a need for liver biopsy. However, hepatic proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (H-MRS) is a new innovative tool used to quantitatively measure hepatic TG content in a non-invasive manner. The primary aim is to compare the impact of dietary weight loss via carbohydrate-restriction and calorie-restriction on hepatic TG-content quantified by H-MRS in obese children with biopsy-proven NAFLD and Met-S. This IRB approved protocol is a randomized control study. The investigators will recruit subjects from the Center for Obesity and its Consequences in Health and the pediatric gastroenterology clinics between the ages of 11-17 years who meet criteria for NAFLD and Met-S. A H-MRS will be obtained in each subject prior to the start of dietary intervention. Fifty-four subjects will be randomized to either a carbohydrate-restricted or calorie-restricted diet for 6 months with no change in baseline activity. A repeat H-MRS will be compared to baseline to determine the whether dietary carbohydrate-restriction is superior to calorie-restriction for reducing hepatic TG content. The investigators believe that subjects on the carbohydrate-restricted diet will have marked decrease in hepatic TG content compared to those in the calorie-restricted diet given the same degree of reduction in body mass index.

A 24 Week, Multicenter, Prospective, Open-labeled, Single-arm, Exploratory Phase 4 Clinical Trial...
Type 2 DiabetesNon-alcoholic Fatty Liver DiseaseLobeglitazone is highly selective peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma agonist that decreases insulin resistance in the periphery and liver resulting in increased insulin-dependent glucose disposal and decreased hepatic glucose output. In vivo, It demonstrates that Lobeglitazone improves even more glycemic and lipid control in comparison to rosiglitazone and pioglitazone. Currently, thiazolidinediones such as pioglitazone is the only drug which is considered as an effective therapeutic agent for improving non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NALFD) in type 2 diabetes (T2D). The aim of this multicenter, prospective, open-labeled, single-arm, exploratory phase 4 study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Lobeglitazone once daily for 24 weeks on intrahepatic fat contents assessed by transient elastography (fibroscan) in T2D with NAFLD. Fifty subjects with T2D and NAFLD will take Lobeglitazone (0.5mg/tablet, orally, 1 tablet once daily) for 24 weeks. Primary endpoint is changes from baseline in controlled attenuation parameters (CAP) measured by transient elastography (fibroscan) after treatment with Lobeglitazone. Secondary endpoints are changes from baseline in glycemic profiles (HbA1c, Glycated albumin), Lipid parameters (Total Cholesterol, Triglycerides, HDL-C, LDL-C), Liver function parameters (AST, ALT, r-GT), and adverse events during the trial.

Effects of Pitavastatin on Insulin Sensitivity and Liver Fat
ObesityFatty Liver1 moreHMG co-A reductase inhibitors, commonly called statins, are an effective treatment for dyslipidemia and atherosclerotic heart disease with proven mortality benefit. While the lipid-lowering effects of statins are well-known, other metabolic effects, including effects on glucose tolerance and ectopic fat distribution, are less completely understood. Recent studies have shown that some statins may increase the risk of diabetes. Further, research has suggested that statins may have some benefit in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a condition associated with obesity that includes increased fat in the liver (steatosis) and, in some cases, inflammation and hepatocellular damage (steatohepatitis). Pitavastatin, approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2009, is the most recent statin to enter the market. Unlike most statins, pitavastatin is not primarily metabolized through cytochrome P450 (CYP450), and thus has reduced potential for interactions with other medications that are metabolized by CYP450. Previous studies have suggested that pitavastatin may be neutral to glucose homeostasis and may improve hepatic lipid. Neither of these effects has been proven definitively, however, and the current proposal aims to characterize in detail the effects of pitavastatin on glucose homeostasis, hepatic steatosis, and steatohepatitis.

Silymarin for the Treatment of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver DiseaseThis is a randomised study to examine whether high dose Sillymarin will be able to help improve fat-induced liver damage in the liver. The study hypothesis is that high dose Sillymarin will be able to reduce steato-hepatitis (fat-related liver inflammation) better than placebo.

Intragastric Balloon for Treatment of Non Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH)
Non Alcoholic SteatohepatitisThe study will determine the feasibility of using Bioenteric intragastric balloon (BIB) in the treatment of patients with Non alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH).

Helicobacter Pylori Eradication in Subjects With Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver DiseaseThe aim of study was to evaluate the effect of helicobacter pylori eradication on liver function tests, lipid profile, homeostasis model assessment-IR (HOMA-IR) index, and anthropometric measurements (body mass index and waist circumference)in subjects with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Phase 1 Study to Evaluate Safety of GR-MD-02 in Subjects With Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH)...
Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH)The primary objective of this study is to characterize the safety, tolerability and dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) for GR-MD-02 when administered intravenously to subjects with biopsy-proven NASH with advanced liver fibrosis.

Sitagliptin Versus Placebo in the Treatment of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver DiseaseNonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) represents a spectrum of diseases ranging from simple steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), the progressive form of liver disease that can lead to cirrhosis and liver-related mortality in persons who drink little or no alcohol. NAFLD is defined as the presence of hepatic steatosis with no evidence of hepatocellular injury in the form of ballooning of the hepatocytes. NASH is defined as the presence of hepatic steatosis and inflammation with hepatocyte injury (ballooning) with or without fibrosis. NASH is benign in many affected individuals but can cause progressive liver injury and, indeed, may be the major cause of cryptogenic cirrhosis1. Currently, there is no FDA approved treatment for NAFLD. Weight loss and exercise are the recommended but often difficult maintain these lifestyle changes in the long term and therefore therapeutic agents have been investigated. In this study, we propose to treat 50 patients with NAFLD and diabetes with either sitagliptin or placebo for 24 weeks. After an initial evaluation for insulin sensitivity and MRI liver fat distribution, patients will receive either 100 mg/day of sitagliptin or placebo. Patients will be monitored at regular intervals for symptoms of liver disease, side effects of sitagliptin and serum biochemical and metabolic indices. At the end of 24-weeks, patients will have a repeat medical evaluation, liver MRI and an optional liver biopsy. Pre and post treatment MRI-derived liver fat content and insulin sensitivity will be compared. The primary end point of successful therapy will be improvement in hepatic steatosis measured by MRI. Secondary end points will be improvement in insulin sensitivity and liver biochemistry.

Genetic Effect on Omega 3 Fatty Acids for the Treatment of Fatty Liver Disease
Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver DiseaseSteatohepatitis4 moreTo explore whether there is a different response to omega-3 fatty acid rich diet with respect to the hepatic fat fraction % (HFF), triglyceride, and ALT levels between the rs738409 minor allele (GG) and the common allele homozygous (CC) of PNPLA3. Hypothesis: We expect that subjects homozygous for the minor allele of the rs73049 SNP will lower their triglyceride, hepatic fat content, and ALT levels more with dietary intervention than the common allele homozygous supplementation.