Tai Chi for middle-aged and older adults with fatty liver disease
Tests Tai Chi against usual exercise in adults with metabolic fatty liver disease.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: The Effects of Tai Chi on Metabolic Dysfunction-associated Fatty Liver Disease in Middle-Aged and Older Adults
Key facts
- Where
- Fuzhou, ChinaSee the site
AI summary: who the study is looking for
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.
The trial is looking for adults aged 40 to 75 with metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease and overweight or obesity. It tests a 6-month Tai Chi program.
- Age
- 40 to 75 years
- Sex
- Men and women can join
- Disease stage
- Diagnosis of metabolic associated fatty liver disease, with liver fat content of 5% or more measured by mDixon QUANT, and BMI of 24 kg/m² or more (overweight or obesity)
- Earlier treatment
- Must not use medicines that may interfere with the exercise results, such as corticosteroids, liver protection drugs, or medicines that affect heart rate (such as beta-blockers)
- Biomarker or test result
- Liver fat content of 5% or more on mDixon QUANT
Main reasons for not taking part
- Heavy alcohol use in the past 6 months (more than 140 g per week for men, more than 70 g for women)
- Fatty liver from other causes, such as viral, drug-induced or autoimmune hepatitis
- Serious heart disease, including a heart attack in the past 6 months or heart failure (NYHA III-IV)
- Other diseases affecting sugar and fat metabolism, such as diabetes or thyroid disease
- Pregnant or planning to become pregnant soon
Read by machine on 12 November 2026.
Could this be for you?
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 40 and 75 years old?
Source: NCT06717828, who can take part
Where in China
- Fujian Provincial HospitalFuzhou, ChinaContact: Xiling LinTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations
Print a page for my doctorTrial details
- Who runs it
- Fujian Provincial Hospital
- Trial code
- NCT06717828
- Record updated
- 5 December 2024
- Original description
Background: Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a liver condition primarily driven by metabolic dysfunctions that may progress to hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. It is also implicated in the development of other metabolic dysfunction-related diseases. MAFLD has emerged as a growing public health concern in China. Despite its potential benefits, Tai Chi exercise has not been widely adopted for individuals with MAFLD, and there is limited research investigating its therapeutic efficacy. This study aims to evaluate the effects of a structured Tai Chi intervention on middle-aged and elderly individuals with MAFLD.Read full original descriptionShow less
The Effects of Tai Chi on Metabolic Dysfunction-associated Fatty Liver Disease in Middle-Aged and Older Adults
Background: Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a liver condition primarily driven by metabolic dysfunctions that may progress to hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. It is also implicated in the development of other metabolic dysfunction-related diseases. MAFLD has emerged as a growing public health concern in China. Despite its potential benefits, Tai Chi exercise has not been widely adopted for individuals with MAFLD, and there is limited research investigating its therapeutic efficacy. This study aims to evaluate the effects of a structured Tai Chi intervention on middle-aged and elderly individuals with MAFLD.
Methods: The study employs a comprehensive open, randomized, parallel, and controlled design. Eligible participants will be randomly allocated into three groups: Tai Chi, conventional exercise, and control. A total of 250 participants will be enrolled, comprising 100 participants each for the Tai Chi and conventional exercise groups and 50 for the control group. Both the Tai Chi and conventional exercise groups will participate in a structured 6-month exercise program. During the intervention, both groups will also receive regular health education on fatty liver disease. Participants will be encouraged to maintain their usual activities but will be advised against starting new exercise regimens. The control group will receive only health education on fatty liver disease. The primary efficacy endpoint is the change in hepatic triglyceride content measured via validated imaging techniques after 6 months. Secondary endpoints include changes in total body fat, waist circumference, body weight, blood pressure, blood lipids, blood glucose, insulin sensitivity, pancreatic beta-cell function, kidney function, and pulse wave velocity. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline and post-intervention.
Discussion: Tai Chi exercises demonstrate therapeutic potential in reducing intrahepatic fat content, promoting weight loss, and mitigating cardiovascular risk factors. Furthermore, their efficacy appears superior to that of conventional exercise modalities.
Inclusion: Age between 40 and 75 years; Liver fat content measured by mDixon QUANT is ≥5%; Diagnosis of metabolic associated fatty liver disease; Overweight/obesity (BMI ≥ 24 kg/m²); Signed written informed consent.
Exclusion: Fatty liver due to other causes: such as alcoholic fatty liver, acute and chronic viral hepatitis, drug-induced hepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis, etc; Severe cardiovascular diseases, including myocardial infarction within the past 6 months; Heart failure (NYHA classification: III - IV); Biliary diseases: such as obstructive biliary diseases; Patients unable to communicate normally, such as those with dementia or cognitive impairment; Other conditions preventing participation in follow-up interventions; Other clinical diseases that make participation in exercise unsuitable, such as inability to cooperate with exercise therapy due to severe pain or joint deformities, or the use of medications that may interfere with the assessment of exercise effects (such as corticosteroids, liver protection drugs, etc.), or medications that affect heart rate (such as beta-blockers); Other diseases affecting glucose and lipid metabolism: diabetes, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, Cushing's syndrome, etc; Chronic kidney disease or severe renal impairment, defined as serum creatinine of 135 µmol/L (1.5 mg/dL) for males and 110 µmol/L (1.3 mg/dL) for females; Excessive alcohol consumption (definition: in the past 6 months, males have consumed more than 140g of alcohol per week, and females have consumed more than 70g); Poorly controlled blood pressure: SBP ≥ 180 mmHg, DBP ≥ 100 mmHg; Currently pregnant or planning to become pregnant in the near future.