Insulin Resistance in Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

NCT ID: NCT01289639

Last Updated: 2017-08-17

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: TERMINATED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 11 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2005-10-31
• Study Completion Date: 2014-08-31

Brief Summary

The study is designed to investigate the relationship between insulin resistance and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and to investigate potential mechanisms underlying insulin resistance in NAFLD by determining associations between hepatic and peripheral insulin sensitivity, hepatic steatosis, dyslipidemia, inflammatory cytokines, glucose metabolism, beta-cell function and body fat distribution.

Detailed Description

NAFLD and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are common liver disorders that are strongly associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes and dyslipidemia. The underlying pathophysiology of fatty infiltration of the liver is thought to be related to insulin resistance, which is an almost universal finding in patients with NAFLD. It is also possible that fat infiltration and inflammation in the liver may impair insulin sensitivity, either locally in the liver, or peripherally via the actions of inflammatory cytokines. We hypothesize that insulin resistance is a major causal factor leading to fat deposition in the liver and NAFLD, and thus interventions aimed at improving insulin sensitivity will result in a reduction of hepatic inflammation and steatosis.

Specific Aim 1: To determine in a cross-sectional study whether NAFLD is associated with altered peripheral and hepatic insulin sensitivity and to study their relationships with hepatic steatosis, dyslipidemia, inflammatory cytokines, glucose metabolism, beta-cell function and body fat distribution. Specific Aim 2: To determine in a 6 month placebo-controlled double-blinded treatment study if treatment with pioglitazone, an insulin sensitizer, or fenofibrate, a triglyceride lowering agent, will improve both hepatic as well as peripheral insulin sensitivity and thereby improve hepatic steatosis and inflammation in subjects with NAFLD.

The results of the proposed study will have important implications for our understanding of the mechanisms underlying insulin resistance and abnormalities in lipid and glucose metabolism in subjects with NAFLD and for the design of future studies aimed at the prevention and treatment of this condition.

Conditions

Fatty Liver

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE
• Blinding Strategy: DOUBLE

Study Groups

Placebo

matching placebo 1 po qd

Group Type: PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

placebo

Intervention Type: DRUG

placebo 1 capsule po qd

Fenofibrate

micronized fenofibrate 200 mg 1 po qd

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

fenofibrate

Intervention Type: DRUG

micronized fenofibrate 200 mg 1 po qd

Pioglitazone

pioglitazone 30 mg po qd

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

pioglitazone

Intervention Type: DRUG

pioglitazone 30 mg po qd

Interventions

fenofibrate

micronized fenofibrate 200 mg 1 po qd

Intervention Type: DRUG

pioglitazone

pioglitazone 30 mg po qd

Intervention Type: DRUG

placebo

placebo 1 capsule po qd

Intervention Type: DRUG

Other Intervention Names

micronized fenofibrate; Actos

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

Control subjects: nl liver enzymes and no history of liver disease Case subjects: NAFLD on liver biopsy within the past 3 years or presumed NAFLD with otherwise unexplained elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and fatty liver by computerized tomography (CT) scan or ultrasound

• Able to comply with taking 1 pill a day for 6 months and follow-up safety visits

Exclusion Criteria

• Cases: cirrhosis on liver biopsy or by clinical exam or fibrosis score
• Causes of liver dysfunction other than NASH
• Use of medications associated with hepatic steatosis:

• glucocorticoids
• estrogens
• tamoxifen
• amiodarone
• accutane
• sertraline
• Use of medications that cause insulin resistance:

• niacin
• glucocorticoids
• anti-HIV drugs or atypical antipsychotics
• Use of lipid-lowering medications except stable dose statin
• Use of anti-NASH drugs such as ursodeoxycholic acid, betaine milk thistle
• Use of coumadin
• Use of nitrates
• Significant alcohol consumption: Average >20 grams/day
• In subjects with diabetes, a hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) >7.5% or use of insulin, metformin, rosiglitazone or pioglitazone
• Liver transaminases: ALT >5x upper limit of normal,
• Iron saturation >50%
• Creatinine >1.5 mg/dl for men and >1.4 mg/dl for women
• Hematocrit <33%
• Pregnancy or lactation
• Significant weight loss within the past 6 months or since the liver biopsy
• History of significant coronary artery disease or congestive heart failure, retinopathy

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 80 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

VA Office of Research and Development

FED

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Kristina M Utzschneider, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle

Locations

VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle

Seattle, Washington, United States

Countries

United States

References

Utzschneider KM, Largajolli A, Bertoldo A, Marcovina S, Nelson JE, Yeh MM, Kowdley KV, Kahn SE. Serum ferritin is associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and decreased Beta-cell function in non-diabetic men and women. J Diabetes Complications. 2014 Mar-Apr;28(2):177-84. doi: 10.1016/j.jdiacomp.2013.11.007. Epub 2013 Nov 26.

Reference Type: RESULT

PMID: 24360972 (View on PubMed)

Kratz M, Marcovina S, Nelson JE, Yeh MM, Kowdley KV, Callahan HS, Song X, Di C, Utzschneider KM. Dairy fat intake is associated with glucose tolerance, hepatic and systemic insulin sensitivity, and liver fat but not beta-cell function in humans. Am J Clin Nutr. 2014 Jun;99(6):1385-96. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.113.075457. Epub 2014 Apr 16.

Reference Type: RESULT

PMID: 24740208 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

CDA-2-044-08S-2

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id