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MASLD (Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease)CHRONOSTEATOSINCT07378072

Efficacy of 12-week Daytime Restricted Eating on Hepatic Steatosis of Obesity

A study testing Time Restricted Eating in people with MASLD (Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease), run by Nantes University Hospital at 9 sites in France.

Recruiting

Looking for participants now. Contact the study team or a site below to ask about taking part.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

The objective of this study is to demonstrate that an < or equal to 8-hour time-restricted eating (i.e., fasting for at least 16 hours every day), not focusing on reducing caloric intake, reduces intra-hepatic fat in patients with obesity and Metabolic dysfunction-Associated Steatotic liver Disease (MASLD). Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 65 years
What is being tested?
Time Restricted Eating
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
72 participants
Where
9 sitesFrance
Study dates
17 Jun 2026to Jun 2029
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

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 65 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Body mass index (BMI) between 30.0 and 49.9 kg/m2
  • Age between 18 and 65 years (limits included)
  • Sedentary (light-intensity physical activity less than 1 hour per week) or moderately active (moderate exercise 1 to 2 hours per week). Self-declared criteria.
  • Weight stable for at least 3 months prior to the beginning of the study (gain or loss <4 kg). Self-declared criteria.
  • Able to give written informed consent
  • Self-reported eating interval > 12 hours per day
Show all 10Show fewer
  • Subject who owns a smartphone with access to the internet, and agrees to use it in the study
  • Affiliation with French social security system or beneficiary from such system
  • Fibroscan® Controlled Attenuation Parameter (CAP) > 300 dB/ms
  • Hepatitis B and C serologies negative (or showing past-infection or protective immunization)

Who cannot join

  • Alcohol intake > 20 g/day
  • Night-shift workers or rotating shift workers
  • Smoking
  • Patient with diabetes if HbA1c not at target (<7%) and/or using a non-authorized medication)
  • Chronic liver disease other than MASLD
  • Severe hepatic disease (cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma)
Show all 22Show fewer
  • Severe cardiac disease (Chronic heart failure classified as being in New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class III or IV)
  • Severe Kidney disease with CKD-EPI<30 mL/min/1,73m2
  • Initiation of hormonal treatment during the study period
  • Medications affecting weight or energy balance
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) not possible due to patient's anthropometric characteristics. Any of the following:
  • abdominal and/or thoracic circumference with arms greater than 200 cm
  • Sagittal diameter (or abdominal height, i.e. the distance between the dorsum and the apex of the abdomen, which was measured in the supine position at the midpoint between the iliac crest and the last rib) over 70 cm
  • body weight over 160 kg
  • MRI not possible due to the following (an MRI safety screening form will have to be filled for inclusion): presence of a pacemaker or cardiac defibrillator or cardiovascular catheter or neurostimulator or an implantable electronic pump for automated drug injection or an electronically-controlled implantable chamber. Ocular metallic foreign bodies
  • History of severe eating disorders: Binge Eating Disorder, Bulimia Nervosa; Night eating syndrome
  • Minors
  • Adults under guardianship, trusteeship or under safeguard of justice
  • Other clinical trial participation that could interfere with the study
  • Pregnant women or women trying to be pregnant
  • Nursing mothers
  • Any treatment triggering hepatic steatosis

Trial locations and contacts

9 sites in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

9 sites in 1 country

France9 sites, 9 recruiting
  • CHU Angers

    Angers, 49993

    Agnes SALLE, MD, 02 41 35 44 99 ext. +33, AgSalle@chu-angers.fr

    Agnes SALLE, MD

    Not yet recruiting
  • CHU Bordeaux

    Bordeaux, 33404

    Blandine GATTA-CHERIFI, MD, 05 57 65 64 33 ext. +33, blandine.gatta-cherifi@chu-bordeaux.fr

    Blandine GATTA-CHERIFI, MD

    Not yet recruiting
  • CHU Dijon-Bourgogne

    Dijon, 21000

    Marie-Claude BRINDISI, MD, 03 80 29 34 53 ext. +33, marie-claude.brindisi@chu-dijon.fr

    Marie-Claude BRINDISI, MD

    Not yet recruiting
  • CHU Lyon

    Lyon, 69495

    Cyrielle CAUSSY, MD, 04 78 86 44 48 ext. +33, cyrielle.caussy@chu-lyon.fr

    Cyrielle CAUSSY, MD

    Not yet recruiting
  • CHU Marseille

    Marseille, 13000

    Bénédicte GABORIT, MD, 04 91 96 87 23 ext. +33, benedicte.gaborit@ap-hm.fr

    Bénédicte GABORIT, MD

    Not yet recruiting
  • CHU Montpellier

    Montpellier, 34000

    Antoine AVIGNON, MD, 04 67 33 63 48 ext. +33, a-avignon@chu-montpellier.fr

    Antoine AVIGNON, MD

    Not yet recruiting
  • CHU Nantes

    Nantes, 44093

    David JACOBI, MD, 02 53 48 27 01 ext. +33, david.jacobi@chu-nantes.fr

    David JACOBI

    Recruiting
  • Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou

    Paris, 75015

    Claire CARETTE, MD, 01 56 09 59 68 ext. +33, claire.carette@aphp.fr

    Claire CARETTE, MD

    Not yet recruiting
  • CHU Rennes

    Rennes, 35000

    Ronan THIBAULT, MD, 02 99 26 71 42 ext. +33, ronan.thibault@chu-rennes.fr

    Ronan THIBAULT, MD

    Not yet recruiting

Other trials in France

About this study

Official title: Efficacy of 12-week Daytime Restricted Eating on Hepatic Steatosis of Obesity: Randomized, Open-label, Parallel Group, Controlled Superiority Trial _ CHRONOSTEATOSIS

The objective of this study is to demonstrate that an < or equal to 8-hour time-restricted eating (i.e., fasting for at least 16 hours every day), not focusing on reducing caloric intake, reduces intra-hepatic fat in patients with obesity and Metabolic dysfunction-Associated Steatotic liver Disease (MASLD).

Read the detailed description

Obesity is a growing health problem. The increase in obesity is driving the growing prevalence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD, formerly called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease or NAFLD).

Chronobiology has revealed new risk factors for metabolic disease including MASLD. Proof-of-concept studies showed that time-restricted eating (TRE), a dietary intervention that involves longer fasting periods (typically > 12 h per day) without caloric restriction, reprograms metabolism favorably. The state of the art now justifies clinical trials on clinical populations.

The aim of this randomized, parallel group, controlled study is to test the efficacy of Time Restricted Eating (TRE) implemented with dietary coaching and a dedicated mobile application compared to usual care. The primary endpoint is the evolution of liver fat content quantified by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).

Patients presenting all inclusion criteria without non-inclusion ciriteria will be included and a Magnetic Resonnance Imaging of the liver will be programmed. Randomization will be performed within 3 months post inclusion after MRI results are obtained. Only patients showing Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Proton Density Fat Fraction (MRI-PDFF) > or equal to 8% will be randomized. Other patients will be withdrawn from study before randomization.

After randomization, both groups will benefit from the standard of care for obesity management and metabolic assessment. Both groups will benefit from dietary counselling to achieve a balanced diet (no calorie restriction) and increase physical activity as recommended. This counselling will be performed by weekly phone calls of a centralized dietetician during a period of 12 weeks. Both groups of patients will use a mobile application to daily register time of first food intake and of time of last food intake (through time-stamped photos of first and last feedings). This will allow to know length of the patient's eating period per 24 hours.

Difference between the 2 groups of patients is only that, in the experimental arm (TRE), patients will additionnaly be instructed to reduce time of daily food intake to a window of 8 hours per day or less and thus increase daily fasting to at least 16 hours. This coaching will be performed during the weekly phone calls of a centralized dietetician.

Being tested
Time Restricted Eating, Usual care only
Keywords
Time-restricted eating, Obesity, MASLD, circadian rhythms
Medical subject headings
Intermittent Fasting, Obesity

What participants receive

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

  • Time Restricted EatingBehavioural

    Coaching of the patient by a dietetician for reduction of time of daily food intake to a window of 8 hours per day or less and thus increase of daily fasting to at least 16 hours, in addition to usual dietary counselling to achieve a balanced diet (no calorie restriction) and increase physicial activity as recommended (current guidelines).

  • Usual care onlyBehavioural

    Usual care: dietary counselling to achieve a balanced diet (no calorie restriction) and increase physicial activity as recommended (current guidelines).

Study groups in NCT07378072
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Time Restricted EatingExperimentalCoaching of the patient by a dietetician for reduction of time of daily food intake to a window of 8 hours per day or less and thus increase of daily fasting to at least 16 hours, in addition to usual dietary counselling to achieve a balanced diet (no calorie restriction) and increase physicial activity as recommended (current guidelines).
Receives: Behavioral: Time Restricted Eating
Usual care onlyActive comparatorOnly usual care: usual dietary counselling to achieve a balanced diet (no calorie restriction) and increase physicial activity as recommended (current guidelines).
Receives: Behavioral: Usual care only

What is being measured

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

  1. Liver fat content quantified by Magnetic Resonance Imaging Proton Density Fat Fraction

    Liver fat content quantified Magnetic Resonance Imaging Proton Density Fat Fraction (MRI-PDFF) before randomization and then at 12 weeks post randomization

    Measured: 12 weeks post randomization

Secondary outcomes (36)
  1. Average lenght of the eating period per 24 hours

    Average lenght of the eating period per 24 hours as assessed byt he self-declared times of first and last food intake every day of the 12 weeks intervention. (Daily registration of time of first food intake and of time of last food intake will be performed by all patients on the dedicated mobile application through time-stamped photos of first and last feedings)

    Measured: 12 weeks post randomization

  2. Liver steatosis and Stiffness as assessed by the Fibroscan

    Liver steatosis ans stiffness evaluated by Fibroscan Controlled Attenuation Parameter before randomization and then at 12 weeks post randomization

    Measured: 12 weeks post randomization

  3. Hepatic outcomes evaluated through aspartates aminotransferases (ASAT) blood level before randomization and at 12 weeks post randomization.

    Level of aspartate aminotransferases (ASAT) in blood before randomization and at 12 weeks post randomization.

    Measured: 12 weeks post randomization

  4. Physical activity level measured by accelerometry with a watch accelerometer

    Physical activity measured by accelerometry with a watch accelerometer during 7 days before randomization, then during 7 days of the sixth and twelfth weeks after randomization.

    Measured: 12 weeks post randomization

  5. Anthropometric outcomes assessed by body weight.

    Patient weight assessed before randomization, then at 6 and 12 weeks post randomization

    Measured: 12 weeks post randomization

  6. Anthropometric outcomes assessed by impedancemetry

    Anthropometric oucome : body fat assessed by impedancemetry before randomization, then at 6 and 12 weeks post randomization

    Measured: 12 weeks pour randomization

  7. Anthropometric outcomes assessed by Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the liver

    Percentage of visceral and sub-cutaneaous fat, percentage of muscle fat and muscular surface assessed by Magnetic Resonance Imaging before randomization and at 12 weeks post randomization.

    Measured: 12 weeks post randomization

  8. Blood pressure

    Blood pressure measured before randomization, then at 6 and 12 weeks post randomization

    Measured: 12 weeks post randomization

  9. Metabolic outcomes related to energy balance evaluated through glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) blood level before randomization and at 12 weeks post randomization.

    Level of HbA1c in blood before randomization and at 12 weeks post randomization.

    Measured: 12 weeks post randomization

  10. Metabolic outcomes related to energy balance or insulin signaling/resistance assessed through indirect calorimetry

    Metabolic outcome : resting energy expenditure as assessed by indirect calorimetry at assessed by indirect calorimetry before randomization then at 12 weeks post randomization.

    Measured: 12 weeks post randomization

  11. Depression assessed using the PHQ-9 questionnaire

    Depression assessed using the PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire-9) before randomization , then at 12 weeks post randomization

    Measured: 12 weeks post randomization

  12. Anxiety assessed using the GAD-7 questionnaire

    Anxiety assessed using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder questionnaire (GAD-7) before randomization, then at 12 weeks post randomization

    Measured: 12 weeks post randomization

  13. Quality of sleep using Pittsburgh sleep quality index

    Quality of sleep using Pittsburgh sleep quality index before randomization, then at 12 weeks post randomization

    Measured: 12 weeks post randomization

  14. Quality of life assessed by EQ-5D questionnaire

    Quality of life assessed by the Euro Quality of Life-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) questionnaire before randomization, then at 12 weeks post randomization.

    Measured: 12 weeks post randomization

  15. Chronotype as assessed by Micro Munich ChronoType Questionnaire

    Chronotype as assessed by Micro Munich ChronoType Questionnaire before randomization, then at 12 weeks post randomization

    Measured: 12 weeks post randomization

  16. Appetite as assessed by FCQ-T-r questionnaire

    Appetite as assessed by Food Craving Questionnaire-Trait-reduced (FCQ-T-r) before randomization, then at 12 weeks post randomization

    Measured: 12 weeks post randomization

  17. Caloric intake

    Total caloric intake and macronutrient repartition as assessed by registration on the dedicated mobile application of photos of patient's intakes during 3 days before randomization, then during 3 days of the sixth and twelfth weeks after randomization

    Measured: 12 weeks post randomization

  18. Occurrence of the following adverse events: headache, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, dizziness, fatigue and irritability

    Occurrence of the following adverse events: headache, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, dizziness, fatigue and irritability up to 12 weeks post randomization

    Measured: 12 weeks post randomization

  19. Hepatic outcomes evaluated through alanine aminotransferase (ALAT) blood level before randomization and at 12 weeks post randomization.

    Level of alanine aminotransferase (ALAT) in blood before randomization and at 12 weeks post randomization.

    Measured: 12 weeks post randomization

  20. Hepatic outcomes evaluated through gamma glutamyl-transpeptidase (gamma-GT) blood level before randomization and at 12 weeks post randomization.

    Level of gamma glutamyl-transpeptidase (gamma-GT) in blood before randomization and at 12 weeks post randomization.

    Measured: 12 weeks post randomization

  21. Hepatic outcomes evaluated through alcaline phosphatases (ALP) blood level before randomization and at 12 weeks post randomization.

    Level of alcaline phosphatases (ALP) in blood before randomization and at 12 weeks post randomization.

    Measured: 12 weeks post randomization

  22. Hepatic outcomes evaluated through bilirubin blood level before randomization and at 12 weeks post randomization.

    Level of bilirubin in blood before randomization and at 12 weeks post randomization.

    Measured: 12 weeks post randomization

  23. Hepatic outcomes evaluated through blood parameter transferrin saturation coefficient before randomization and at 12 weeks post randomization.

    Level of transferrin saturation coefficient before randomization and at 12 weeks post randomization.

    Measured: 12 weeks post randomization

  24. Hepatic outcomes evaluated through ferritin blood level before randomization and at 12 weeks post randomization.

    Level of ferritin in blood before randomization and at 12 weeks post randomization.

    Measured: 12 weeks post randomization

  25. Hepatic outcomes evaluated through blood parameter prothrombin ratio before randomization and at 12 weeks post randomization.

    Level of prothrombin ratio before randomization and at 12 weeks post randomization.

    Measured: 12 weeks post randomization

  26. Hepatic outcomes evaluated through iron blood level before randomization and at 12 weeks post randomization.

    Level of iron in blood before randomization and at 12 weeks post randomization.

    Measured: 12 weeks post randomization

  27. Hepatic outcomes evaluated through protein C-reactive (CRP) blood level before randomization and at 12 weeks post randomization.

    Level of protein C-reactive (CRP) in blood before randomization and at 12 weeks post randomization.

    Measured: 12 weeks post randomization

  28. Anthropometric outcomes assessed by waist circumference.

    Patient waist circumference assessed before randomization, then at 6 and 12 weeks post randomization.

    Measured: 12 weeks post randomization

  29. Anthropometric outcomes assessed by hip circumference.

    Patient hip circumference assessed before randomization, then at 6 and 12 weeks post randomization.

    Measured: 12 weeks post randomization

  30. Metabolic outcomes related to energy balance evaluated through total cholesterol blood level before randomization and at 12 weeks post randomization.

    Level of total cholesterol in blood before randomization and at 12 weeks post randomization.

    Measured: 12 weeks post randomization

  31. Metabolic outcomes related to energy balance evaluated through LDL-cholesterol blood level before randomization and at 12 weeks post randomization.

    Level of LDL-cholesterol in blood before randomization and at 12 weeks post randomization.

    Measured: 12 weeks post randomization

  32. Metabolic outcomes related to energy balance evaluated through HDL-cholesterol blood level before randomization and at 12 weeks post randomization.

    Level of HDL-cholesterol in blood lbefore randomization and at 12 weeks post randomization.

    Measured: 12 weeks post randomization

  33. Metabolic outcomes related to energy balance evaluated through triglycerids blood level before randomization and at 12 weeks post randomization.

    Level of triglycerids in blood before randomization and at 12 weeks post randomization.

    Measured: 12 weeks post randomization

  34. Metabolic outcomes related to energy balance or insulin signaling/resistance assessed through glucose continuous monitoring

    Continous monitroing of glucose in blood during 7 days before randomization and during 7 days of the sixth and of the twelfth weeks after randomization

    Measured: 12 weeks post randomization

  35. Metabolic outcomes related to energy balance or insulin signaling/resistance assessed through determination of HOMA-IR

    Homesotasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) calculated from basal (fasting) glucose and insulin before randomization then at 12 weeks post randomization

    Measured: 12 weeks post randomization

  36. Metabolic outcomes related to energy balance or insulin signaling/resistance assessed through determination of HOMA-beta

    Homesotasis Model Assessment for Beta-cell function (HOMA-beta) calculated from basal (fasting) glucose and insulin before randomization then at 12 weeks post randomization

    Measured: 12 weeks post randomization

Timeline

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

  1. First posted30 Jan 2026
  2. Study start17 Jun 2026
  3. Primary completionJun 2029 (estimated)
  4. Study completionJun 2029 (estimated)

Resources

More details

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

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
72 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07378072
Sponsor's protocol ID
RC21_0569
Acronym
CHRONOSTEATOSI
Status last verified
Jun 2026
First submitted
11 Dec 2025
Last updated
29 Jun 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Undecided

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Time Restricted Eating in people with MASLD (Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease), run by Nantes University Hospital at 9 sites in France.

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 10 inclusion and 22 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: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 29 Jun 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 9 sites in France. 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?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

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

Contact David JACOBI, MD (02 53 48 27 01 ext. +33, david.jacobi@chu-nantes.fr), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Liver fat content quantified by Magnetic Resonance Imaging Proton Density Fat Fraction (time frame: 12 weeks post randomization). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
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 29 Jun 2026.

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