High-intensity interval training for fatty liver disease in adults
Tests high-intensity interval exercise in adults aged 35 to 65 with fatty liver disease.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: CPET-based HIIT for MAFLD
Key facts
- Where
- Beijing, ChinaSee the 5 sites
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 35 to 65 with fatty liver found on abdominal ultrasound and at least one heart or metabolic risk factor. It tests a high-intensity interval exercise program.
- Age
- 35 to 65 years
- Sex
- Men and women can join.
- Disease stage
- Fatty liver diagnosed by abdominal ultrasound, together with at least one cardiometabolic risk factor: overweight or obesity, prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, high triglycerides, low HDL-cholesterol, or high blood pressure.
- Earlier treatment
- People taking GLP-1 receptor agonists or SGLT-2i cannot join. People taking more than 2 blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol or heart rhythm drugs cannot join. People taking dietary supplements cannot join.
- Biomarker or test result
- Risk factor cut-offs: BMI 24 kg/m2 or more, or waist 90 cm or more in men and more than 85 cm (33 in) in women; HbA1c 5.7% (39 mmol/mol) or more; fasting glucose 6.1 mmol/L (110 mg/dL) or more; triglycerides 1.7 mmol/L (151 mg/dL) or more; blood pressure 130/85 mmHg or more.
Main reasons for not taking part
- Reasons that rule out cardiopulmonary exercise testing
- Abnormal ECG result during the exercise test
- Mental illness
- Other liver diseases
- Pregnant, breastfeeding or planning pregnancy soon
Read by machine on 9 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 35 and 65 years old?
Source: NCT07177963, who can take part
Where in China
- Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical UniversityBeijing, ChinaNo longer taking part
- Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical UniversityBeijing, ChinaNo longer taking part
- Beijing YouAn Hospital,Capital Medical UniversityBeijing, ChinaNo longer taking part
- Peking University Third HospitalBeijing, ChinaNo longer taking part
- The Fifth Medical Center, Chinese PLA General HospitalBeijing, ChinaNo longer taking part
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?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- Tang Yida
- Trial code
- NCT07177963
- Record updated
- 17 September 2025
- Original description
High-intensity interval training (HIIT), as an individualized exercise training mode based on cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), is characterized by high-intensity training sessions interspersed with short rest periods. The findings from recent trials suggest that in the management of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), compared with traditional aerobic exercise modes such as moderate-intensity continuous training, HIIT may achieve similar or even better effects in reducing liver fat content, increasing peak oxygen uptake, improving insulin resistance, and lowering blood pressure, despite requiring less time commitment and lower energy expenditure. However, there is currently no consensus regarding the formulation of HIIT exercise protocols.Read full original descriptionShow less
Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing-based High-intensity Interval Training For Improving MAFLD
High-intensity interval training (HIIT), as an individualized exercise training mode based on cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), is characterized by high-intensity training sessions interspersed with short rest periods. The findings from recent trials suggest that in the management of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), compared with traditional aerobic exercise modes such as moderate-intensity continuous training, HIIT may achieve similar or even better effects in reducing liver fat content, increasing peak oxygen uptake, improving insulin resistance, and lowering blood pressure, despite requiring less time commitment and lower energy expenditure. However, there is currently no consensus regarding the formulation of HIIT exercise protocols.
Based on the lower limits of the current mainstream HIIT intensity, sets, and interval time parameters, this study aims to assess the effectiveness, safety, and feasibility of the current exercise prescription in improving MAFLD.
Inclusion: Adults age 35~65 years Nonalcoholic fatty liver diagnosed by abdominal ultrasonography; In conjunction with at least one cardiometabolic risk factor:; Overweight or Obesity: ≥ 24kg/m2，or waist circumference ≥ 90 cm in men and > 85 cm in women, or excessive body fat mass; Prediabetes or type 2 diabetes mellitus: HbA1c ≥ 5.7%, or fasting plasma glucose ≥ 6.1mmol/L, or 2-h plasma glucose during OGTT ≥ 7.8mmol/L; Plasma triglycerides ≥ 1.7 mmol/L (>-150 mg/dl) or lipid-lowering treatment; HDL-cholesterol ≤ -1.0 mmol/L in men and ≤ -1.3 mmol/L in women or lipid-lowering treatment; Blood pressure ≥ 130/85 mmHg or treatment for hypertension.
Exclusion: Receiving GLP-1 receptor agonists, SGLT-2i, or taking >2 antihypertensive/hypoglycemic/lipid-lowering/ antiarrhythmic drugs; Mental illness; Other liver diseases; Movement disorder related diseases and lower limb motor injury in the past 6 months; Contraindications for Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing; The electrocardiogram (ECG) results during cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) showed positive findings; Taking dietary supplements (e.g., fish oil products, over-the-counter diet pills, meal replacements); Pregnant, lactating or planning to become pregnant in the near future.