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Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver DiseaseNCT02148471

Fatty Acids, Genes and Microbiota in Fatty Liver

An observational study of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Steatosis, run by Johane Allard at 1 site in Canada.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

The first aim of this study is to assess oxidative stress and nutritional status in patients with elevated liver enzymes who were found to have either simple steatosis (SS) or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) or normal histological findings on liver biopsy by measuring liver lipid peroxides and tumor necrosis… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 70 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
How many people
205 participants
Where
1 siteCanada
Study dates
Oct 2003to Aug 2015
Phase
Observational
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 70 years
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult, Older adult

Study population: Healthy living liver donors from the Multiorgan transplant program at the University Health Network Patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (SS or NASH on liver biopsy) or patients with elevated liver enzymes but no significant findings on liver biopsy.

Who may be able to join

  • Male and female patients, age >18 y
  • A liver biopsy with a diagnosis of SS or NASH OR No signs of steatosis, fibrosis or any other kind of liver disease on histology (minimal findings) OR For healthy control subjects, those with normal liver enzymes and normal liver imaging on ultrasound
  • alcohol consumption (<20g of ethanol per day);
  • absence of any other possible cause for liver dysfunction.

Who cannot join

  • any other liver disease apart from NAFLD
  • anticipated need for liver transplantation in one year or complications of liver disease;
  • any reasons contraindicating a liver biopsy (patients) or liver donation (healthy donors)
  • chronic gastrointestinal diseases, previous gastrointestinal surgery modifying the anatomy, patients with diabetes requiring insulin.
  • medications known to precipitate steatohepatitis (corticosteroids, high dose estrogens, methotrexate, amiodarone, spironolactone, sulfasalazine, perhexiline maleate, diethylamino- ethoxyhexestrol (DH), tamoxifen, diethylstilbestrol, naproxen or oxacillin) or regular intake of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (except for low dose aspirin), use of ursodeoxycholic acid or any experimental drug in the 6 months prior to entry.
  • regular intake of prebiotics, probiotics, antibiotics, or laxatives; in the 3 months prior to study entry
  • Pregnant or lactating

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Canada1 site
  • Toronto General Hospital

    Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1Z5

Other trials in Canada

About this study

Official title: Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis Versus Simple Hepatic Steatosis: Is There a Difference in the Nutritional Factors Influencing Lipid Perioxidation and Inflammation?

The first aim of this study is to assess oxidative stress and nutritional status in patients with elevated liver enzymes who were found to have either simple steatosis (SS) or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) or normal histological findings on liver biopsy by measuring liver lipid peroxides and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, liver pathology and immunohistochemistry, liver function tests, liver and red blood cell membrane fatty composition, insulin resistance (IR) parameters, plasma lipid peroxides, plasma antioxidant vitamins and antioxidant power, lipid profile, subject demographics, medical history and medication use. The second aim is to detect differences in hepatic gene expression (messenger RNA, mRNA) and epigenetic regulation (micro RNA, miRNA) between patients with SS or NASH and healthy controls, in addition to determine in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD = SS+NASH combined) whether there is an association between hepatic n-3 PUFA content and gene expression. The third aim is to determine the intestinal microbiome (microbial composition and metagenome) in patients with SS or NASH and healthy controls.

Read the detailed description

NASH is associated with obesity, diabetes and hyperlipidemia. Fat accumulation in the liver is likely due to variable degrees of disordered fatty-acid metabolism and insulin resistance (IR). Liver steatosis, especially polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in the liver, increases lipid peroxidation and is associated with a reduction in the antioxidant defense system. This oxidative stress can lead to increased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, transforming growth factor-beta) contributing to the development of steatohepatitis and fibrosis.TNF-α - may further contribute to IR. In addition, changes in fatty acid composition within the liver may influence lipid metabolism and inflammation. In particular, n-3 PUFA have an effect on the insulin sensitivity, transcription of antioxidant genes, inflammatory response and production of reactive oxygen species. Differences might be seen on the gene expression level (mRNA) and also in epigenetic regulation (miRNA).

Microbiota composition might influence energy metabolism, and inflammatory tone and IR through increased endotoxemia and therefore could also play a role in the development of NAFLD.

Keywords
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, Steatosis, Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis
Medical subject headings
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Fatty Liver

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

Study groups in NCT02148471
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Healthy controlsHealthy living liver donors with healthy liver on imaging and/or liver histology
Simple steatosisPatients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease confirmed by liver biopsy with a diagnosis of simple steatosis
Nonalcoholic steatohepatitisPatients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease confirmed by liver biopsy with a diagnosis of steatohepatitis
Minimal findingsPatients undergoing liver biopsy because of suspected fatty liver but nonspecific findings on liver histology. This group was initially used as a control group. Later in the study, this group was replaced by healthy donors as true healthy controls.

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Hepatic fatty acid composition in total lipids in liver biopsy

    Gas chromatography

    Measured: Baseline

  2. Hepatic gene expression

    mRNA by microarray

    Measured: Baseline

  3. Intestinal microbiota composition

    Illumina 16S technology

    Measured: Baseline

Secondary outcomes (7)
  1. Lipid peroxides in the liver

    Test kit

    Measured: Baseline

  2. Hepatic liver antioxidant power

    Test kit

    Measured: Baseline

  3. Hepatic microRNA expression in the liver

    NanoString

    Measured: Baseline

  4. Intestinal microbiota - specific organisms and groups

    Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction

    Measured: Baseline

  5. Intestinal microbiome on a genetic level

    Illumina sequencing technology

    Measured: Baseline

  6. Short-chain fatty acids in stool

    Gas chromatography

    Measured: Baseline

  7. Plasma endotoxin

    Limulus assay

    Measured: Baseline

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted28 May 2014 (estimated)
  2. Study startOct 2003
  3. Primary completionAug 2015
  4. Study completionAug 2015

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Observational
Observational model
Cohort
Time perspective
Cross-sectional
Enrolment
205 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT02148471
Sponsor's protocol ID
03-0505-A
Status last verified
May 2016
First submitted
23 May 2014
Last updated
12 May 2016
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No

Publications

  • Schwenger KJ, Allard JP. Clinical approaches to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. World J Gastroenterol. 2014 Feb 21;20(7):1712-23. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i7.1712.

    PubMed 24587650
  • Monteiro J, Leslie M, Moghadasian MH, Arendt BM, Allard JP, Ma DW. The role of n - 6 and n - 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the manifestation of the metabolic syndrome in cardiovascular disease and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Food Funct. 2014 Mar;5(3):426-35. doi: 10.1039/c3fo60551e.

    PubMed 24496399
  • Mouzaki M, Allard JP. The role of nutrients in the development, progression, and treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2012 Jul;46(6):457-67. doi: 10.1097/MCG.0b013e31824cf51e.

    PubMed 22469640
  • Mouzaki M, Allard J. Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis: the therapeutic challenge of a global epidemic. Ann Gastroenterol. 2012;25(3):207-217.

    PubMed 24713803
  • Da Silva HE, Arendt BM, Noureldin SA, Therapondos G, Guindi M, Allard JP. A cross-sectional study assessing dietary intake and physical activity in Canadian patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease vs healthy controls. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2014 Aug;114(8):1181-94. doi: 10.1016/j.jand.2014.01.009. Epub 2014 Mar 14.

    PubMed 24631112
  • Arendt BM, Ma DW, Simons B, Noureldin SA, Therapondos G, Guindi M, Sherman M, Allard JP. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is associated with lower hepatic and erythrocyte ratios of phosphatidylcholine to phosphatidylethanolamine. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2013 Mar;38(3):334-40. doi: 10.1139/apnm-2012-0261. Epub 2012 Oct 15.

    PubMed 23537027
  • Mouzaki M, Comelli EM, Arendt BM, Bonengel J, Fung SK, Fischer SE, McGilvray ID, Allard JP. Intestinal microbiota in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Hepatology. 2013 Jul;58(1):120-7. doi: 10.1002/hep.26319. Epub 2013 May 14.

    PubMed 23401313
  • Allard JP, Aghdassi E, Mohammed S, Raman M, Avand G, Arendt BM, Jalali P, Kandasamy T, Prayitno N, Sherman M, Guindi M, Ma DW, Heathcote JE. Nutritional assessment and hepatic fatty acid composition in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD): a cross-sectional study. J Hepatol. 2008 Feb;48(2):300-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2007.09.009. Epub 2007 Nov 20.

    PubMed 18086506
  • Arendt BM, Comelli EM, Ma DW, Lou W, Teterina A, Kim T, Fung SK, Wong DK, McGilvray I, Fischer SE, Allard JP. Altered hepatic gene expression in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is associated with lower hepatic n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Hepatology. 2015 May;61(5):1565-78. doi: 10.1002/hep.27695. Epub 2015 Feb 27.

    PubMed 25581263
  • Pasini E, Baciu C, Angeli M, Arendt B, Pellegrina D, Reimand J, Patel K, Tomlinson G, Mazhab-Jafari MT, Kotra LP, Fischer S, Allard JP, Humar A, Bhat M. Acyl-CoA Thioesterase 1 Contributes to Transition of Steatosis to Metabolic-Associated Steatohepatitis. Int J Hepatol. 2024 Jul 11;2024:5560676. doi: 10.1155/2024/5560676. eCollection 2024.

    PubMed 39624175
  • Schwenger KJP, Sharma D, Ghorbani Y, Xu W, Lou W, Comelli EM, Fischer SE, Jackson TD, Okrainec A, Allard JP. Links between gut microbiome, metabolome, clinical variables and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease severity in bariatric patients. Liver Int. 2024 May;44(5):1176-1188. doi: 10.1111/liv.15864. Epub 2024 Feb 14.

    PubMed 38353022
  • Pettinelli P, Arendt BM, Schwenger KJP, Sivaraj S, Bhat M, Comelli EM, Lou W, Allard JP. Relationship Between Hepatic Gene Expression, Intestinal Microbiota, and Inferred Functional Metagenomic Analysis in NAFLD. Clin Transl Gastroenterol. 2022 Jul 1;13(7):e00466. doi: 10.14309/ctg.0000000000000466. Epub 2022 Feb 10.

    PubMed 35166723

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

An observational study of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Steatosis, run by Johane Allard at 1 site in Canada.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 7 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 12 May 2016. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Canada. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Hepatic fatty acid composition in total lipids in liver biopsy (time frame: Baseline). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT02148471, which also lists 12 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 12 May 2016.

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