The Effect of Glucose, Fructose, and Sucrose on Liver Fat in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease A Study of Sugar Impact and Fructose Restriction in Men with Fatty Liver

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying how different simple sugars affect fat buildup in the liver, focusing on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in male volunteers aged 18 to 70, including both non-obese and obese individuals. The study explores how glucose, fructose, and sucrose influence liver fat after a high-fat meal and investigates whether removing fructose from the diet for a week can reduce liver fat in people with fatty liver disease. This research aims to clarify the role of these sugars in liver fat accumulation and improve dietary guidelines for NAFLD management. The study has two parts. In Part A, participants receive a high-fat load (150 g of fat) combined with either glucose, fructose, or sucrose in fruit tea, administered three times over six hours. Liver fat content is measured before and after each 8-hour session using MRI and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Part B involves a seven-day diet eliminating fructose, replaced by starch or glucose, for participants with moderate fatty liver. Liver fat and blood markers are measured before and after this dietary intervention. Participants undergo detailed assessments including MRI/MRS scans to measure liver fat and visceral fat, blood tests to monitor triglycerides, fatty acids, insulin, and glucose, and genetic testing related to liver fat accumulation. They keep dietary records during the fructose restriction phase. The study includes several visits over about eight weeks for repeated measurements in Part A and a seven-day intervention in Part B, with ongoing analysis and follow-up planned over multiple years.

The Role of Sugars in Fat Accumulation in the Liver