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NCT04899102Recruiting

Intermittent Fasting for NAFLD in Adults

Pilot Study of Time-Restricted, Intermittent Fasting for Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Non-Obese Adults

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Last updated 18 Dec 2025

Brief summary (registry, in English)

NAFLD is a growing threat to public health. Currently, there is a significant need for highly effective treatments for NAFLD. Non-obese NAFLD (BMI\<30kg/m2) is an increasingly recognized condition, sometimes described as "lean NAFLD". Intermittent Fasting (IF) may be uniquely beneficial in non-obese NAFLD. The purpose of this study is to identify non-pharmacologic, lifestyle-based methods of NAFLD treatment within non-obese adults.

Status (registry)
Recruiting
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
25 (estimated)
First submitted
19 May 2021
Start date
1 Feb 2022
Primary completion date
31 Jul 2026
Lead sponsor
Massachusetts General Hospital
NCT number
NCT04899102

What you commit to

  • Study type: Interventional
  • Planned participants: 25
  • From 1 Feb 2022 to the primary completion date, 31 Jul 2026
  • 1 site in 1 country
  • Visits and tests: ask the trial team, the registry does not list them

Built from the registry fields of ClinicalTrials.gov. It describes the study, not your situation.

Who cannot take part

Copied verbatim from ClinicalTrials.gov and grouped by topic. Only the trial team decides who can take part.

Prior treatment

  • Heavy alcohol use for at least 3 consecutive months within the past 5 years prior to screening \[heavy alcohol consumption is defined as: \> 20g daily for women or \> 30mg daily for men, assessed by the Lifetime Drinking History assessment at screening (23, 24)\].
  • Current or prior history of Type II Diabetes requiring insulin or sulfonylureas due to risk of hypoglycemia with fasting.
  • Use of any pharmacological treatments for NAFLD/NASH within the 6 months prior to the screening visit, except vitamin E. Patients on a stable dose of vitamin E can be enrolled in the study.
  • Unstable body weight \[defined as: \>10% reduction in body weight in the 6 months prior to the screening visit\]
  • Known cirrhosis, stage 4 fibrosis on prior liver biopsy, or clinical evidence of cirrhosis or portal hypertension on imaging or exam.
  • Current or prior history of Child-Pugh score ≥7.
  • Prior or planned bariatric surgery, patients on active pharmacological treatment for weight loss, or active involvement in a weight loss program.

Other illness

  • Evidence of other known forms of chronic liver disease including:
    • Alcoholic liver disease, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, PBC, PSC, autoimmune hepatitis, Wilson disease, iron overload, alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency, drug-induced liver injury, known or suspected hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
  • History of liver transplant, or current placement on a liver transplant list.
  • Known positivity for human immunodeficiency virus infection.
  • Other medical conditions or severe chronic illnesses that, in the opinion of the Investigator, may present a contraindication to study participation.
  • Any other condition that, in the opinion of the Investigator, may hinder study compliance or completion of the study schedule of assessments.

Lab values

  • Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) with eGFR \< 60.

Other

  • Routine MRI exclusion criteria, such as the presence of a pacemaker or cerebral aneurysm clip.
  • For women of child-bearing potential (WOCBP): positive urine hCG, trying to achieve pregnancy, or breastfeeding \[a negative urine pregnancy test is required at screening for women of child-bearing potential\].

Who the study is looking for

  • Willing and able to provide informed consent
  • Age 18 years or older at time of consent
  • BMI 23-30kg/m\^2 at screening
  • Evidence of NAFLD confirmed by historical procedure obtained no more than 6 months prior to the screening visit, defined as:
    • Grade \>=1 steatosis on clinical liver biopsy; OR
    • Fatty liver on validated imaging modality (non-contrast CT scan, MR Spectroscopy, MRI proton density fat fraction, ultrasound)
  • Liver fat fraction ≥10% on H-MRS performed during the screening period
  • Hepatitis C antibody and Hepatitis B surface antigen negative at screening

Age in the registry: 18 years to - · Sex: All · Does not accept healthy volunteers

Full criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov

Sites (1)

Sites in registry order. Pick your city on the disease page to sort them by distance.

SiteCityCountrySite status
Massachusetts General Hospital
Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status
BostonUnited StatesRecruiting

This page is information, not medical advice. Discuss any trial with your doctor.