The Effect of a High-fat vs. High-sugar Diet on Liver Fat Accumulation and Metabolism

University of Oxford16 enrolled

Overview

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most prevalent liver disease in the world. It is currently unclear why fat starts to accumulate in the liver, although both the amount and type of food consumed have been implicated. The majority of studies that have investigated the effects of dietary fat or sugar on liver fat have fed volunteers excess calories, which are known to increase liver fat. The effect of specific dietary components, when consumed as part of a diet not containing excess calories, on liver fat accumulation remains unclear.

This research aims to investigate the role excessive consumption of specific macronutrients may play in the development of NAFLD. This will be achieved by subjecting participants to two specific dietary interventions (high-fat, low-carbohydrate and low-fat, high-carbohydrate) in a randomized, crossover research design. Liver fat content, and whole-body and hepatic fasting and postprandial lipid metabolism will be assessed before and after the specific dietary interventions.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Fat; Liver NAFLD

Interventions

High-fat, low-carbohydrateOTHER

Dietary intervention: 4 week

Low-fat, high-carbohydrateOTHER

Dietary intervention: 4 week

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 30 YearsMax age: 65 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Participant is willing and able to give informed consent for participation in the study. * BMI \>25 \<35kg/m2 * No medical condition or relevant drug therapy known to affect liver, lipid or glucose metabolism Exclusion Criteria: * Age \<30 or \>65 years * Body mass index \<25 or \>35kg/m2 * A blood haemoglobin \<120mg/dL * Any metabolic condition or relevant drug therapy * People who do not tolerate fructose * Smoking * History of alcoholism or a greater than recommended alcohol intake * Pregnant or nursing mothers * Women prescribed any contraceptive agent or device including oral contraceptives, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or who have used these within the last 12 months * History of severe claustrophobia * Presence of metallic implants, pacemaker * Haemorrhagic disorders * Anticoagulant treatment

Locations (1)

Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism

Oxford, United Kingdom

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Change in liver fat content

Investigators will measure the change in liver fat content after each of the 4 week intervention diets by magnetic resonance imaging/spectroscopy (MRI/S).

Time frame: Before, and within 7 days after completion of each dietary intervention

Secondary Outcomes

Change in hepatic fatty acid partitioning

Investigators will utilise stable isotope tracer methodology to measure the contribution of newly synthesised fatty acids and dietary fatty acids to triglyceride production and oxidation pathways in the liver after each of the 4 week intervention diets.

Time frame: Within 7 days after completion of each dietary intervention

Change in plasma metabolite concentrations

Circulating concentrations of glucose, insulin, non-esterified fatty acids, and triglycerides will be measured biochemically using a clinical analyser after each of the 4 week intervention diets.

Time frame: Before, and within 7 days after completion of each dietary intervention.

Change in whole-body fatty acid oxidation

Investigators will utilise stable isotope tracer methodology to measure whole-body dietary fatty acid oxidation after each of the 4 week intervention diets.

Time frame: Within 7 days after completion of each dietary intervention

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.