The Prevalence of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) in Adults
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver DiseaseNon Alcoholic SteatohepatitisNonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a global health concern with a suspected increasing prevalence due to the rise in obesity and diabetes mellitus. The vast majority of patients will have isolated steatosis or steatosis with mild inflammation that is very unlikely to progress in severity. However, about 25% of patients with NAFLD have non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), the more aggressive form of the disease that is associated with fibrosis progression and potential risk for cirrhosis and end-stage liver disease complications. Additionally, multiple studies have demonstrated an association between NAFLD and the presence of coronary artery disease by either coronary CT angiography (CCTA) or coronary artery calcium (CAC) score. Cardiovascular disease is the most important cause of mortality in patients with the entire spectrum of NAFLD. In the era of advanced imaging and functional vascular assessment it is possible that novel risk assessments are poised to refine overall prognostic estimation in this population. Multiple analyses have suggested that NAFLD is an independent and strong predictor of significant CAD independent of cardiovascular risk factors, including a significant burden of high risk CCTA findings in one analysis of symptomatic patients in the emergency department. Given the multiple metabolic derangements inherent in the NAFLD population, endothelial dysfunction is also an important contributor to global cardiovascular dysfunction. Furthermore, data suggests that patients with NAFLD may be at increased risk of adenomatous polyp formation and colorectal adenocarcinoma. In addition, it is suboptimal to require a liver biopsy to diagnose NASH. Recent imaging advances have made it possible to assess liver fibrosis but have yet to be fully studied in NAFLD. The purpose of this study is to assess the current prevalence and severity of NAFLD in adult subjects. Secondary endpoints include correlation to new vascular function (cine scan of the abdominal aorta) and echocardiographic imaging modalities available at BAMC and to circulating biomarker panels as well as to determine the prevalence and severity of CAD by multidetector coronary CT angiography with subject outcomes being monitored prospectively. Additionally, correlation of NAFLD diagnosis to colonoscopy findings will be performed.
Fatty Liver in Obesity: Long-lifestyle Follow-up (FLiO)
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver DiseaseObese1 moreNon-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a condition of excessive hepatic lipid accumulation in subjects that consume less than 20g ethanol per day, without other known causes as drugs consumption or toxins exposure. In Western countries, the rate of this disease lies about 30% in the general adult population. The process of developing NAFLD can start from simple steatosis to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which eventually can lead to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma in the absence of alcohol abuse. Liver biopsy is considered the "gold standard" of steatosis, fibrosis and cirrhosis. However, it is rarely performed because it is an invasive procedure and investigators are focusing in the application of non-invasive liver damage scores for diagnosis. The pathogenesis of NAFLD is multifactorial and triggered by environmental factors such as unbalanced diets and overnutrition as well as by lack of physical activity in the context of a genetic predisposition. Nowadays, the treatment of NAFLD is based on diet and lifestyle modifications. Weight loss, exercise and healthy eating habits are the main tools to fight NAFLD. Nevertheless, there is no a well characterized dietary pattern and further studies are necessary. With this background, the general aim of this project is to increase the knowledge on the influence of nutritional/lifestyle interventions in obese patients with NAFLD, as well as contribute to identify non-invasive biomarkers/scores to early diagnosis of this pathology in future obese people.
Lifestyle Intervention in Fatty Liver (NAFLD)
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver DiseaseNon-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), including its more pathologic consequence, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), is believed to be the most common chronic liver disease worldwide, affecting between 6 to 37% of the population. NAFLD is a so called 'silent killer', as clinical symptoms only surface at late stages of the disease, when it is no longer treatable: untreated, NAFLD/NASH can lead to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, culminating in liver failure. Several factors may contribute to the pathogenesis of NAFLD, including genetic assessment and mitochondrial dysfunction. Patients with NAFLD/NASH display disturbances of intestinal permeability, and gut microbiota. In the most of cases, NAFLD/NASH is strongly linked to other metabolic conditions, including visceral adiposity. Currently the best method of diagnosing and staging the disease is liver biopsy, a costly, invasive and somewhat risky procedure, not to mention unfit for routine assessment. Weight loss is the first step approach with reasonable evidence suggesting it is beneficial and safe in NAFLD/NASH patients. However, the efficacy of weight reduction for the treatment of NAFLD/NASH has not been carefully evaluated. Several studies on the effects of weight reduction on NAFLD/NASH have been uncontrolled, used poorly defined patient populations and non-standardized weight loss interventions, and lacked a well-accepted primary outcome for NASH. The objective of the project is to conduct a randomized controlled trial of 1 year-long weight reduction in the management of NAFLD/NASH patients using a lifestyle-dietary intervention program. Overweight or obese individuals with biopsy or ultrasonography (US) -proven NAFLD/NASH will be randomized to receive either standard medical care and educational sessions related to NAFLD/NASH, healthy eating, weight loss, and exercise (control group); or to an intensive weight management with a goal of at least 7-10 % weight reduction (lifestyle intervention group). The weight loss intervention will be modelled on Mediterranean-intervention-diet. The investigators hypothesize that a 7-10% weight reduction through intensive lifestyle intervention will lead to improvement of clinical, US, anthropometric, and biochemical features on patients diagnosed with NAFLD/NASH.
MLCT Oil for Fatty Liver - PASS Trial
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver DiseaseNon-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis1 moreThe main objective of this randomised pilot study is to explore the relative efficacy of dietary MLCT oil versus LCT oil (corn oil) in augmenting therapy of overweight and obese NAFLD patients with at least a 1-stage reversal between F1 and F4.
Probiotics in the Treatment of NAFLD
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver DiseaseNonalcoholic Steatohepatitis3 moreEvaluate the effect of supplementation of probiotics on liver changes (histological and enzymatic), lipid profile and gut microbiota of patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).
A Study to Assess ARI-3037MO on Hepatic Fat Metabolism in Patients With Dysglycemia and Evidence...
Nonalcoholic SteatohepatitisPrimary objective To investigate the effect of a 24-week, twice daily dosing regimen of ARI-3037MO compared to placebo on plasma triglyceride (TG) levels, liver enzymes and hepatic fat content in patients with dysglycemia and hepatic steatosis due to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Secondary Objective To investigate the safety and tolerability of a 24-week, twice daily dosing regimen of ARI-3037MO compared to placebo in patients with dysglycemia and evidence of NAFLD or NASH.
Effect of Liraglutide on Fatty Liver Content and Lipoprotein Metabolism
Type 2 DiabetesNon-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is commonly associated with obesity, metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. NAFLD, in patients with type 2 diabetes, has been shown to be associated with lipid abnormalities (such as hypertriglyceridemia and decreased HDL-cholesterol) and increased cardiovascular risk. Such lipid abnormalities (hypertriglyceridemia and decreased HDL-cholesterol) are very frequent in patients with type 2 diabetes. Moreover, NAFLD is a risk for further development of cirrhosis (estimated between 3 and 5%). Animal studies have shown that liraglutide is able to decrease liver fat content, but the effect of liraglutide on liver fat content in patients with diabetes remains unknown. In addition, human studies with liraglutide have shown significant modification of plasma lipids, such as reduction of plasma triglycerides and LDL-cholesterol. However, the mechanisms responsible for these liraglutide induced lipid modifications are not yet known. Because increased in liver fat content and hypertriglyceridemia are associated in patients with type 2 diabetes, it seems interesting to study the effect of liraglutide on both liver fat content and lipid metabolism using gold-standard methods (proton-spectroscopy for liver fat content assessment and kinetic study with stable isotope to study lipoprotein metabolism). This is a monocentric study. Fatty liver content will be performed by proton-spectroscopy in patients with type 2 diabetes (n=120) before and after a 6 month period of liraglutide therapy (1.2 mg/day). Moreover, an in vivo kinetic study will be performed with stable isotopes (13C leucine) in 10 patients among the 120 patients with type 2 diabetes (n=10) before and after a 6-month period of liraglutide (1.2 mg/day) therapy. Each kinetic study will be performed during a 2-day hospitalization For the main study, 3 visits will be performed: a first visit at T0, before starting the treatment with liraglutide, including clinical and biological measurements and liver fat content assessment by proton-spectroscopy a visit at 3 months including clinical and biological measurements and a visit at 6 months including clinical and biological measurements and liver fat content assessment by proton-spectroscopy For the kinetic substudy, performed in 10 patients, a kinetic study with stable isotope will been performs during a 48h-hospitalization before starting the treatment with liraglutide and after 6 month-treatment with liraglutide
Lifestyle Versus Ezetimibe Plus Lifestyle in Patients With Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis
•Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH)NAFLD (Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease) has become the most common cause of liver disease in Western countries (hepatic manifestation of insulin resistance); NAFLD represents a cardiovascular risk factor; Lifestyle modification(weight loss)is the effective medical treatment recommended for NASH (Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis); Ezetimibe could represent a novel safe treatment for NAFLD (Patel 2006. Here the investigators propose a Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial to evaluate the addictive effect of ezetimibe on liver histology, biochemical and sonographic parameters in a small (n.40) number of NASH patients randomized for 12 months in two arms: lifestyle vs lifestyle+ezetimibe.
Comparing Effects of Liraglutide and Bariatric Surgery on Weight Loss, Liver Function, Body Composition,...
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)Weight Loss1 moreNon-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is defined by presence of hepatic steatosis (fat accumulation in liver cells), either by imaging or by biopsy and absence of causes for secondary hepatic fat accumulation such as significant alcohol consumption, medications, or hereditary disorders. In the majority of patients, NAFLD is associated with risk factors for cardiovascular disease such as obesity, diabetes mellitus, and high cholesterol, and may lead to irreversible liver damage. Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a more severe form of NAFLD and is present in up to 30% of obese adults. NASH is defined by hepatic steatosis and inflammation with hepatocyte injury with or without fibrosis (hardening of the liver). The prevalence, morbidity and mortality of NAFLD is increasing, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region where there will be an estimated 300 million obese people by 2030. Weight loss is the first-line treatment for NAFLD in obese individuals, but the utility of lifestyle modification with diet and exercise is limited by difficulties in sustaining compliance and by eventual weight regain. Bariatric (weight loss) surgery produces the greatest amount of weight loss but is limited by cost, patient acceptance, and complications. The efficacy of drugs for NASH, such as vitamin E and medication to lower cholesterol and glucose, remains unclear. Liraglutide, a glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1) analogue, is an injectable medication which has been shown to induce weight loss and lower glucose in obese adults. There is little information on the effects of GLP-1 analogues on NASH, particularly in comparison to other modalities of weight loss such as surgery. This study aims to compare the efficacy and safety of lifestyle modification, liraglutide and surgery, for weight loss in conjunction with reducing severity of NASH, and for insulin resistance, high cholesterol and other cardiovascular risk factors.
Atorvastatin, L-Carnitine and Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis
Non-alcoholic SteatohepatitisThe aim of the present study was to compare the effects of simvastatin and L-carnitine coadministration versus simvastatin, L-Carnitine monotherapy on liver transaminases and liver elasticity in NASH patients.