Liver CirrhosisNCT07625085
The Effect of a Personalized Protein- and Energy-optimized Diet on Muscle Strength in Adult Patients With Chronic Liver Disease
A study testing Individualized diet in people with Liver Cirrhosis, run by University of Roma La Sapienza at 1 site in Italy.
Trial summary
Liver cirrhosis can lead to weakness, frailty, and poor quality of life, even in patients whose disease is still in a relatively stable phase. Many people with cirrhosis have low muscle strength and frailty, but these problems often go unrecognised and untreated. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 75 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Liver Cirrhosis
- What is being tested?
- Individualized diet
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 70 participants
- Where
- 1 siteItaly
- Study dates
- 7 Mar 2023to 20 Oct 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- 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 75 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
None listed.
Who cannot join
- Already receiving a structured nutrition intervention program or high-protein supplementation.
- Presence of other severe co-morbidities that could confound outcomes.
- History of chronic or recurrent hepatic encephalopathy.
- Active alcohol consumption at the time of screening.
- Expected poor compliance with study procedures.
- Refusal to provide consent for participation.
- Pregnant or lactating women.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: The Effect of Dietary Intervention on Muscle Strength in Patients With Liver Cirrhosis
Liver cirrhosis can lead to weakness, frailty, and poor quality of life, even in patients whose disease is still in a relatively stable phase. Many people with cirrhosis have low muscle strength and frailty, but these problems often go unrecognised and untreated. This study is testing whether a personalised diet plan, focused on adequate calories and protein from regular foods, together with nutrition counselling, can improve muscle strength, frailty, and quality of life in outpatients with stable cirrhosis.
In this study, about 70 adults with compensated or early decompensated liver cirrhosis are randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group receives an individualised, food-based meal plan designed to provide about 30-35 kilocalories per kilogram per day and 1.2-1.5 grams of protein per kilogram per day, along with regular counselling by a diet professional. The other group continues with their usual medical care and does not receive a specific diet plan. No nutritional supplements are used.
Participants are followed for 16 weeks. During this time, the research team measures handgrip strength as the main outcome, and also assesses frailty and health-related quality of life using standard questionnaires and tests. The goal is to find out whether an individualised dietary intervention, using only food-based strategies and counselling, can safely help maintain or improve muscle strength, reduce frailty, and enhance quality of life in people living with liver cirrhosis.
- Conditions
- Liver Cirrhosis
- Being tested
- Individualized diet
- Keywords
- Nutrition, Muscle Strength, Diet, Liver cirrhosis
- Medical subject headings
- Liver Cirrhosis
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Individualized dietOther
Energy intake : 30-35 kcal/kg/day (if overweight or obese individuals -500 to -800 kcal/day).
Protein intake : 1.2-1.5 g/kg/day
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Intervention Group | Active comparator | Patients received personalized dietary charts tailored to provide an energy intake of 30-35 kcal/kg/day. In overweight or obese individuals, a moderately hypocaloric diet (-500 to -800 kcal/day) was prescribed, consistent with established international guidelines. Protein intake was targeted at 1.2-1.5 g/kg ideal body weight (IBW)/day, with a macronutrient distribution of approximately 55-60% carbohydrates, 20% protein, and 20-25% fat. In addition, patients received structured nutritional counselling at enrolment, which reinforced dietary goals and strategies for adherence. Receives: Other: Individualized diet |
| Control Group | No intervention | Patients in the control group did not receive any individualized dietary prescriptions or structured nutritional counselling. They continued their routine clinical management as per standard care. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in handgrip strength (kg) from baseline to Week 16 measured using a Hand Dynamometer
Muscle strength is assessed using a calibrated Jamar® Hydraulic Hand Dynamometer (Performance Health International Ltd., Nottinghamshire, UK), following standardized protocols. Participants are seated upright with the shoulder adducted, elbow flexed at 90°, and the forearm and wrist in a neutral position. The dynamometer is held in the dominant hand unless contraindicated, in which case the non-dominant hand is used. Each participant is instructed to squeeze the device with maximum effort for a few seconds, with standardized verbal encouragement provided to ensure optimal performance.
The average of three measurements are recorded and expressed in kilograms (kg).
Measured: Baseline and 16 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted4 Jun 2026
- Study start7 Mar 2023
- Primary completion20 Oct 2025
- Study completion20 Oct 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Liver CirrhosisStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of Roma La SapienzaThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
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
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 70 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Roma La Sapienza
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Saniya Khan, University of Roma La Sapienza
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07625085
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 0057/2023
- Status last verified
- May 2026
- First submitted
- 18 May 2026
- Last updated
- 4 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 4 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Effect of Dietary Intervention on Muscle Strength in Patients With Liver Cirrhosis
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07625085
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 0057/2023
- Conditions
- Liver Cirrhosis
- Keywords
- Nutrition, Muscle Strength, Diet, Liver cirrhosis
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 70 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of Roma La SapienzaUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 7 Mar 2023 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 20 Oct 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 20 Oct 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 4 Jun 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Liver cirrhosis can lead to weakness, frailty, and poor quality of life, even in patients whose disease is still in a relatively stable phase. Many people with cirrhosis have low muscle strength and frailty, but these problems often go unrecognised and untreated. This study is testing whether a personalised diet plan, focused on adequate calories and protein from regular foods, together with nutrition counselling, can improve muscle strength, frailty, and quality of life in outpatients with stable cirrhosis.
In this study, about 70 adults with compensated or early decompensated liver cirrhosis are randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group receives an individualised, food-based meal plan designed to provide about 30-35 kilocalories per kilogram per day and 1.2-1.5 grams of protein per kilogram per day, along with regular counselling by a diet professional. The other group continues with their usual medical care and does not receive a specific diet plan. No nutritional supplements are used.
Participants are followed for 16 weeks. During this time, the research team measures handgrip strength as the main outcome, and also assesses frailty and health-related quality of life using standard questionnaires and tests. The goal is to find out whether an individualised dietary intervention, using only food-based strategies and counselling, can safely help maintain or improve muscle strength, reduce frailty, and enhance quality of life in people living with liver cirrhosis.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Intervention Group | Active comparator | Other: Individualized dietPatients received personalized dietary charts tailored to provide an energy intake of 30-35 kcal/kg/day. In overweight or obese individuals, a moderately hypocaloric diet (-500 to -800 kcal/day) was prescribed, consistent with established international guidelines. Protein intake was targeted at 1.2-1.5 g/kg ideal body weight (IBW)/day, with a macronutrient distribution of approximately 55-60% carbohydrates, 20% protein, and 20-25% fat. In addition, patients received structured nutritional counselling at enrolment, which reinforced dietary goals and strategies for adherence. |
| Control Group | No intervention | –Patients in the control group did not receive any individualized dietary prescriptions or structured nutritional counselling. They continued their routine clinical management as per standard care. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 75 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (0 listed)
Key exclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Already receiving a structured nutrition intervention program or high-protein supplementation.
- Presence of other severe co-morbidities that could confound outcomes.
- History of chronic or recurrent hepatic encephalopathy.
- Active alcohol consumption at the time of screening.
- Expected poor compliance with study procedures.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Individualized dietEnergy intake : 30-35 kcal/kg/day (if overweight or obese individuals -500 to -800 kcal/day). Protein intake : 1.2-1.5 g/kg/day | Other | Intervention Group |
Primary outcome
Change in handgrip strength (kg) from baseline to Week 16 measured using a Hand Dynamometer
Time frame: Baseline and 16 weeks
Muscle strength is assessed using a calibrated Jamar® Hydraulic Hand Dynamometer (Performance Health International Ltd., Nottinghamshire, UK), following standardized protocols. Participants are seated upright with the shoulder adducted, elbow flexed at 90°, and the forearm and wrist in a neutral position. The dynamometer is held in the dominant hand unless contraindicated, in which case the non-dominant hand is used. Each participant is instructed to squeeze the device with maximum effort for a few seconds, with standardized verbal encouragement provided to ensure optimal performance. The average of three measurements are recorded and expressed in kilograms (kg).
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 4 Jun 2026.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Individualized diet in people with Liver Cirrhosis, run by University of Roma La Sapienza at 1 site in Italy.
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 0 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 4 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 1 site in Italy. 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?
Change in handgrip strength (kg) from baseline to Week 16 measured using a Hand Dynamometer (time frame: Baseline and 16 weeks). 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 4 Jun 2026.