Liver, Diet and Genetic Background
- Conditions
- Liver Fat
- Registration Number
- NCT04644887
- Lead Sponsor
- University of Eastern Finland
- Brief Summary
PNPLA3 rs738409 (I148M) variant is associated with hepatic liver accumulation and chronic liver diseases including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. It has been shown that obesity augments genetic risk but studies investigating the interaction of PNPLA3 rs738409 risk variant and diet are scarce. The aim is to investigate the effect of dietary fat quality modification in participants with different variants of the PNPLA3 gene (rs738409). The primary outcome is the change in liver fat measured by magnetic resonance imaging in the randomized controlled 12-week dietary intervention trial.
- Detailed Description
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease worldwide. The composition of the diet, especially quality of dietary fat, contributes to the susceptibility to hepatic lipid accumulation. Saturated fatty acids (SFA), but not polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) increases intrahepatic triglycerides with and without concomitant weight gain. Therefore, the modification of dietary fat quality is the key dietary approach for the prevention of NAFLD.
PNPLA3 rs738409 (I148M) variant is associated with hepatic liver accumulation and chronic liver diseases including NAFLD. It has been shown that obesity augments genetic risk but studies investigating the interaction of PNPLA3 rs738409 risk variant and diet are scarce. Therefore, the aim is to investigate the effect of dietary fat quality modification (high unsaturated fat vs. high SFA) on liver fat and lipid and glucose metabolism in participants with different variants (CC or GG) of the PNPLA3 gene.
The investigators will conduct the randomized controlled 12-week dietary intervention trial in participants with different homozygous PNPLA3 variants (CC or GG). The primary outcome of the intervention is in the amount of liver fat measured by nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Altogether 140 homozygous participants (PNPLA3 rs738409 CC and GG) will be recruited from the Metabolic Syndrome in Men (METSIM) study. The inclusion criteria include BMI \< 35 kg/m2 and age \< 75 years. The main exclusion criteria include diabetes, acute illness, or current evidence of acute or chronic inflammatory or infective diseases.
Dietary guidance in the intervention group is based on the Nordic and Finnish nutrition recommendations with an emphasis on the quality of dietary fat. The aims for the intake of fatty acids will be SFA \< 10 % of energy intake (E%) and mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids (UFA) \>2/3 of the total fat intake.
The diet of the control group corresponds to the average nutrient intake in the Nordic countries, i.e. the intake of SFA about 15 E% and the proportion of UFA about 50 % of total fat intake.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- Male
- Target Recruitment
- 99
- PNPLA3 rs738409, CC or GG
- Body mass index (BMI) < 35 kg/m2
- Total cholesterol < 8 mmol/l
- LDL cholesterol < 5 mmol/l
- Fasting plasma glucose < 7 mmol/l
- Plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) < 100 U/l
- Age 60-75 y
The main exclusion criteria include acute illness or current evidence of acute or chronic inflammatory or infective diseases. No patients with hepatitis B and/or C, autoimmune hepatitis, Wilsons disease/alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency, hemochromatosis, chronic kidney disease, unstable hypothyroidism or lipoatrophy will be accepted. No subjects with diagnosed diabetes (any type) are accepted. In addition to that, no diagnosed depression or any mental illness rendering the patients unable to understand the nature, scope and possible sequences of the study will be accepted. Alcohol abuse (daily consumption ≥ 30 g for men and ≥ 20 g for women) is also exclusion criteria.
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Liver fat 12 weeks The primary outcome is the change in liver fat measured by magnetic resonance imaging
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Hepatic condition monitored by calculated indexes 12 weeks The hepatic condition will be monitored by calculating and comparing Fibrosis-4 index, NAFLD Fibrosis Score, hepatic steatosis index, the fatty liver index and NAFLD liver fat score.
Glucose metabolism 12 weeks Changes in glucose metabolism (oral glucose tolerance test, 0, 30 min and 2 h samples)
Plasma lipidomic profile 12 weeks Mass spectrometry based lipidomics analysis
Gut microbiota 12 weeks The DNA/RNA of gut microbiota will be extracted and collected for high throughput metagenomics and metatranscriptomics to observe changes in type and composition of gut microbiota.
Hepatic condition monitored by ultrasound 12 weeks The hepatic condition will be monitored by ultrasound
Serum lipid profile 12 weeks Concentrations of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides
Fatty acid composition of plasma lipid fractions 12 weeks Fatty acid composition of plasma phospholipids, cholesteryl esters and triglycerides
Hepatic condition monitored by elastography 12 weeks The hepatic condition will be monitored by elastography
Inflammatory markers 12 weeks Serum circulating concentrations of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein
Plasma metabolomic profile 12 weeks Mass spectrometry based metabolomics analysis
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutriton
🇫🇮Kuopio, Finland