Clinical Research Directory

The Impact of Pectin Supplementation on Systematic Inflammation Pathway, Gut Microbiome, and Metabolic Health in Patients With Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD)

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if daily supplementation with Low-methoxy (LM) pectin (polysaccharides extracted from citrus peels), which are commonly found in the UK diet (not pharmacological agents), can reduce systemic inflammation and improve gut microbiota composition in adults recently diagnosed with Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD). The main question it aims to answer is: -How does dietary Low-methoxy (LM) pectin supplementation affect systematic inflammation pathways such as those mediated by gut microbiota composition and what are the impacts on general metabolic indicators in individuals with MASLD? Researchers will compare a group taking 15g of LM-pectin with 10g of cocoa powder to a placebo group receiving 10g of placebo with 10g of cocoa powder to see if LM-pectin has measurable effects on inflammation and gut microbiota. Participants will: * Take a daily supplement for 6 weeks: either 15g of LM-pectin with 10g of cocoa powder (intervention), or 10g of placebo with 10g of cocoa powder (control) * Provide stool and fasting blood samples before and after the intervention * Undergo anthropometric measurements (weight, height, waist/hip ratio, and blood pressure) * Complete a case report form (CRF) including demographics and health/medical history * Undergo a FibroScan™ to assess liver health * (Optional) Participate in MRI scans to evaluate gut permeability

Gepaktiv vs UDCA and Ademetionine in MAFLD With Hepatomegaly

This study compares the effectiveness of the dietary supplement Gepaktiv with standard medications (UDCA and Ademetionine) in patients with fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and liver enlargement (hepatomegaly). Key points: * Participants will receive either Gepaktiv, UDCA, or Ademetionine for 15 days * Doctors will monitor liver health through blood tests and ultrasound scans * The study will check if Gepaktiv helps improve liver function as effectively as standard treatments. Main measurements: * Changes in liver enzyme levels (ALT, AST) * Reduction in liver size * Improvement in fat accumulation (steatosis) measured by FibroScan This research may provide evidence for a new natural option to support liver health.Data analysis will be done by an independent biostatistics

Quantitative Ultrasound Techniques for Diagnosis of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is the most common liver disease in Western countries, due in large part to its association with type 2 diabetes and obesity. The more advanced form of this disease is known as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). If left untreated, NASH can evolve to cirrhosis, the late stage of fibrosis. Once cirrhosis is established, patients are at increased risk of developing gastrointestinal bleeding, liver cancer and liver failure that may require transplantation. A liver biopsy is currently needed to diagnose the severity of fatty liver disease but this is usually not indicated in asymptomatic patients. This procedure requires the insertion of a needle inside the liver to remove a small piece of tissue for examination under microscope. Liver biopsy is an invasive procedure with a small risk of major complications such as bleeding in 0.5% of cases. It is also affected by sub-optimal sampling leading to diagnostic errors Ultrasound is optimum for screening patients with or without symptoms because it is a safe and widely available technology to scan the whole liver. Members of our team have developed Advanced ultrasound techniques that provide unique information not possible with state-of-the-art techniques. Unlike liver biopsy, these techniques would be applicable even in asymptomatic patients because it is non-invasive. This research proposal proposes a novel approach for diagnosis of NASH and will be the first study to measure individual components of NASH (fat, inflammation and fibrosis) with quantitative ultrasound (QUS) scores. This study is timely because NASH is the second leading cause of liver transplantation in North America and is predicted to become the leading indication in the near future.