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Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) in HIV: The Role of Nutritional Interventions

Phase 2
Terminated
Conditions
HIV Infections
Fatty Liver
Interventions
Drug: antioxidant vitamin E
Behavioral: weight reduction and exercise
Registration Number
NCT00152815
Lead Sponsor
Johane Allard
Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of a one-year nutritional intervention with either betaine or vitamin E supplementation, or a weight reducing diet and exercise program on liver steatosis and steatohepatitis.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
TERMINATED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
30
Inclusion Criteria
  • Baseline liver biopsy with macrovesicular fatty degeneration with inflammation (lobular or portal), with or without Mallory bodies, hepatocyte damage, and/or fibrosis diagnostic of NAFLD
  • Convincing evidence of negligible alcohol consumption (< 20 grams of ethanol per day) obtained from a detailed history, confirmed by at least one close relative
  • If hyperlipidemia or diabetes, stable drug regimen required for the 6 months prior to and during the study
  • Willingness to maintain stable weight and normal exercise program for the duration of the study, if randomized to vitamin E or betaine
Exclusion Criteria
  • Liver disease of other etiology diagnosed as per routine medical investigation (e.g., chronic viral hepatitis, auto-immune chronic hepatitis, primary biliary cirrhosis or genetic liver disease such as Wilson's disease, hemochromatosis, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, or biliary obstruction)
  • Complications of liver disease such as recurrent variceal bleeding, resistant ascites, spontaneous portosystemic encephalopathy, or bacterial peritonitis
  • Concurrent medical illness contra-indicating a liver biopsy, history of unexplained bleeding, hemophilia or abnormal coagulation results as per routine laboratory work-up or other reason judged by the hepatologist to contra-indicate a percutaneous liver biopsy
  • Medications known to precipitate steatohepatitis (corticosteroids, high dose estrogens, methotrexate, amiodarone, calcium channel blockers, spironolactone, sulfasalazine, naproxen, oxacillin or ampinovire) in the 6 months prior to entry
  • Antioxidant vitamin supplementation, ursodeoxycholic acid, or any other experimental drug 6 months prior to study entry
  • Pregnant or lactating

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
SINGLE_GROUP
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Vitamin Eantioxidant vitamin Ealpha-tocoperol, capsules, 2 per day
Vitamin Eweight reduction and exercisealpha-tocoperol, capsules, 2 per day
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
The change in grading of inflammation assessed by liver biopsy from month 0 to month 12 of the studymonth 0 and month 12
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Liver histology for steatosis and fibrosis stagingmonth 0 and month 12
Liver immuno-histochemistry for adducts of MDA: a product of LPmonth 0 and month 12
Alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA): a marker of hepatic stellate cell activationmonth 0 and month 12
Transforming growth factor (TGF-beta): a pro-fibrogenic cytokine involved in fibrogenesismonth 0 and month 12
Liver lipid peroxides and TNP-alphamonth 0, month 6 and month 12

For oxidative stress and inflammation in the liver

Liver steatosis and volume will be assessed by ultrasoundmonth 0 and month 12
Liver enzymes and IR (HOMA and QUICKY) will also be measuredmonth 0, month 6 and month 12
Lipid peroxides, TNF-alpha, vitamin E and C in plasmamonth 0, month 6 and month 12

Parameters for oxidative stress and antioxidant capacity

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University Health Network, Toronto General Hospital

🇨🇦

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

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