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

University of Oxford

Status: Completed

Conditions: Fat; Liver; NAFLD

Treatments: Other: Low-fat, high-carbohydrate; Other: High-fat, low-carbohydrate

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03145350

Oxlip-2017-HFD/HSD

Details and patient eligibility

About

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.

Full description

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.

Enrollment: 16 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 30 to 65 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

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

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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16 participants in 2 patient groups

High-fat, low-carbohydrate diet

Active Comparator group

Description:

Dietary intervention: Participants will consume a diet that is rich in saturated fat (20% total energy) and low in free sugars for 4 weeks. This diet will include commonly eaten foods such as butter, cheese, and fatty meat products. Total fat intake in this intervention will be 40-45% total energy.

Treatment:

Other: High-fat, low-carbohydrate

Low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet

Active Comparator group

Description:

Dietary intervention: Participants will consume a diet that is low in saturated fat (~5% total energy) and rich in free sugars (20% total energy).The diet will include commonly eaten food and drink such as sugar sweetened beverages, confectionery (e.g. fruit gums) and table sugar.

Treatment:

Other: Low-fat, high-carbohydrate