Clinical Trials Logo

Clinical Trial Summary

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of liver dysfunction worldwide. NAFLD may progress to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and in turn to cirrhosis. To date, the detailed pathogenic mechanism of NAFLD including steatosis and NASH is not fully characterized, although it is regarded as a hepatic manifestation of the metabolic syndrome, sometimes it occurs in the absence of a metabolic syndrome. Based on conventional models of "two-hit" and "multi- hit" hypothesis of NAFLD, the dysregulated lipid metabolism and insulin resistance are considered as the "first hit" of the liver and the following "second hit" or "multi-hit" likely involves oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, increased inflammatory responses, induced hepatic fibrosis and apoptosis. This emphasizes the multi-factorial pathogenesis of NAFLD and the necessity to treat NAFLD with diabetes-like and multimodal strategy. Several changes in dietary intake have occurred in the past few years, including increased energy intake (24%), and increases in added sugars, flour and cereal products, fruit, added fats and total fat intake. The increasing prevalence of NAFLD is probably directly affected by the contemporary epidemics of obesity, unhealthy dietary pattern, and sedentary lifestyle. Currently, there are two major categories of NAFLD therapy: lifestyle interventions and pharmaceutical therapies, lifestyle interventions in terms of diet and physical activity are regarded as safe and effective, while pharmaceutical interventions showed limited efficacy with unknown safety in the long term ,therefore, the first line of treatment is lifestyle modification. Although lifestyle intervention dose positively affects NAFLD, it has limitations. Patients adherence to dietary intervention is 50%, while those who do adhere, find it difficult to maintain after 12 months. ). Mediterranean diet has been shown to be effective in reducing NAFLD, liver steatosis and improve insulin sensitivity. Acupuncture has been found as an effective treatment for improving quality of life in various medical conditions , including hepatitis . Acupuncture combined with life style intervention has been found effective in the treatment of obesity, metabolic syndrome in terms of weight, lipid regulation, glucose levels and various markers of inflammation. Acupuncture's effect on NAFLD has yet to be studied.

We suggest that acupuncture combined with life style intervention can be an effective treatment for NAFLD.


Clinical Trial Description

n/a


Study Design

Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment, Masking: Open Label, Primary Purpose: Treatment


Related Conditions & MeSH terms


NCT number NCT02006329
Study type Interventional
Source Ziv Hospital
Contact Nimer assy, MD
Phone 972-4-6828442
Email assy.n@ziv.health.gov.il
Status Not yet recruiting
Phase N/A
Start date January 2014

See also
  Status Clinical Trial Phase
Completed NCT06101433 - The Effect of Soy Isoflavones on Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and the Level of FGF-21 and Fetuin A N/A
Completed NCT03289897 - Non-invasive Rapid Assessment of NAFLD Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging With LiverMultiScan N/A
Recruiting NCT05479721 - LITMUS Imaging Study
Completed NCT05527938 - Web-based Interventions on Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) in Obese Children N/A
Recruiting NCT06308757 - Role of the Very Low Calorie Ketogenic Diet (VLCKD) in Patients With Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) With Fibrosis N/A
Completed NCT02654977 - CLINICAL PROTOCOL to Investigate the Long-term Safety and Efficacy of Metreleptin in Various Forms of Partial Lipodystrophy Phase 2
Completed NCT02927184 - Safety and Tolerability of VK2809 in Patients With Primary Hypercholesterolemia and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Phase 2
Recruiting NCT06047847 - Determination of Biological Activity of Enriched Serum Following TOTUM-448 Consumption N/A
Active, not recruiting NCT03534908 - Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Cardiovascular Disease: the Correlation Analysis and Risk Prediction Model Study
Recruiting NCT06098417 - Biomarkers in the Diagnosis and Prognosis of NAFLD
Recruiting NCT04564391 - Whey or Casein - Liver Fat Reduction and Metabolic Improvement by Fast vs. Slow Proteins N/A
Not yet recruiting NCT05984745 - Effect of CoQ10 on the Outcome of MAFLD Patients Phase 2
Not yet recruiting NCT05052515 - The Effects of Natural Extracts Supplementation on NASH Patients N/A
Recruiting NCT02459496 - Diabetes Nutrition Algorithms in Patients With Overt Diabetes Mellitus N/A
Completed NCT01936779 - Understanding the Role of Dietary Fatty Acids on Liver Fat Metabolism in Humans N/A
Completed NCT05844137 - Improving Detection and Evidence-based Care of NAFLD in Latinx and Black Patients With Type 2 Diabetes N/A
Recruiting NCT04664036 - Prevalence, Incidence and Characteristics of NAFLD/NASH in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus
Recruiting NCT04976283 - Effect of Oral Anti-diabetic Medication on Liver Fat in Subjects With Type II Diabetes and Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Phase 4
Recruiting NCT03587298 - Use of Shear Wave Elastography to Assess Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)
Completed NCT02952170 - Impact of Weight Loss Surgery in Adolescents With NAFLD N/A