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Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Part of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease

28 published articles · Updated continuously

Clinical Trial Landscape

Clinical Trials for Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

70 trials tracked for Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: 6 in phase 3 or 4 and 4 with published results. The most-cited published study has 991 citations.

70Trials tracked
6Phase 3 & 4
0Recruiting
4With published results
Phase distribution
Phase 4 3 Phase 3 3 Phase 2 33 Phase 1 7 Other / NA 24
  1. Phase 4 University of Texas H.S.C. San Antonio Pioglitazone in Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis Trial (UTHSCSA NASH Trial) Completed · 991 cited
  2. Phase 4 Treatment of Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease With n-3 Fatty Acids Completed · 311 cited
  3. Phase 3 Role of Exenatide in NASH-a Pilot Study Completed · 107 cited
  4. Phase 3 Treating PCOS With Semaglutide vs Active Lifestyle Intervention Completed
  5. Phase 4 Adding Exenatide to Insulin Therapy for Patients With Type 2 Diabetes and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Completed
  6. Phase 3 Study to Investigate the Effects of Different Doses of S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAMe) in Subjects With Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Non-treated Matched Healthy Volunteers as Control Group Completed
Show 44 more trials
  1. Phase 2 Phase 2a, Dose-ranging Study With PF-05221304 in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) Completed
  2. Phase 2 The Effect Of NS-0200 Versus Placebo On Hepatic Fat Content In Patients With Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Completed
  3. Phase 2 Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone Analog to Improve Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Associated Cardiovascular Risk Completed
  4. Phase 2 A Study of IDN-6556 in Subjects With NAFLD and Raised Transaminases Completed
  5. Phase 2 Study of Pharmacodynamics and Safety of DGAT2i and ACCi Coadministered in Participants With Sponsor-defined Presumed Non Alcoholic Steatohepatitis Completed
  6. Phase 2 Safety And Efficacy Study Of Orally Administered Epeleuton In Patients With NAFLD Completed
  7. Phase 2 ORION: Effects of Cenicriviroc on Insulin Sensitivity in Subjects With Prediabetes or Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) and Suspected NAFLD Completed
  8. Phase 2 Safety, Tolerability, and Efficacy of Saroglitazar Mg 4 mg in Liver Transplant Recipients With Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) Completed
  9. Phase 2 Saroglitazar Magnesium in Patients With Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and/or Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Completed
  10. Phase 2 A Phase 2 Study of Elobixibat in Adults With NAFLD or NASH Completed
  11. Phase 2 Open-Label Study To Evaluate MN-001 on HDL & Triglyceride in NASH & NAFLD Subjects Completed
  12. Phase 2 Study of Losartan in the Treatment of NAFLD in Children Completed
  13. Phase 2 A Study of Efinopegdutide (MK-6024) in Participants With Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) (MK-6024-001) Completed
  14. Phase 2 Helicobacter Pylori Eradication in Non-diabetic Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis Completed
  15. Phase 2 The Impact of Ibutamoren on Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Completed
  16. Phase 2 Different Doses of BI 1467335 Compared to Placebo in Patients With Clinical Evidence of NASH Completed
  17. Phase 2 CLINICAL PROTOCOL to Investigate the Long-term Safety and Efficacy of Metreleptin in Various Forms of Partial Lipodystrophy Completed
  18. Phase 2 Metabolic Interventions to Resolve Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) With Fibrosis (MIRNA) Completed
  19. Phase 2 Vigabatrin and Insulin Sensitivity Completed
  20. Phase 2 Vitamin E and DHA-EE on NAFLD - Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel-Group Clinical Trial (PUVENAFLD) Completed
  21. Phase 2 The University of Michigan Wellness for Liver Health Study Completed
  22. Phase 2 Helicobacter Pylori Eradication in Diabetic Subjects With Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Completed
  23. Phase 2 Aramchol for HIV-associated Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Lipodystrophy Completed
  24. Phase 2 Study of Semaglutide for Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), a Metabolic Syndrome With Insulin Resistance, Increased Hepatic Lipids, and Increased Cardiovascular Disease Risk (The SLIM LIVER Study) Completed
  25. Phase 2 A Study to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability & Efficacy of MSDC-0602K in Patients With NASH Completed
  26. Phase 2 Study of ISIS 703802 in Participants With Hypertriglyceridemia, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Completed
  27. Phase 2 Vitamin E Dosing Study Completed
  28. Phase 2 The Sleep, Liver Evaluation and Effective Pressure Study Completed
  29. Phase 2 6-week Safety and PD Study in Adults With NAFLD Completed
  30. Phase 2 A Study of HTD1801 in Adults With Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) Completed
  31. Phase 2 Sitagliptin Versus Placebo in the Treatment of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Completed
  32. Phase 2 Efficacy of Amlexanox vs. Placebo in Type 2 Diabetic Patients Completed
  33. Phase 2 Alternate Dosing Study of MK-6024 in Adults With Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) (MK-6024-016) Completed
  34. Phase 1 A Study of Multiple Doses of HM15211(Efocipegtrutide) in Obese Subjects With NAFLD Completed
  35. Phase 1 A Study to Test How Well Different Doses of BI 3006337 Are Tolerated by People With Overweight or Obesity and With Fatty Liver Disease Completed
  36. Phase 1 Pradaxa Tablet Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI) Bioavailability (BA) Study in Japan Completed
  37. Phase 1 Augmenting Growth Hormone to Ameliorate Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Adolescents Completed
  38. Phase 1 Study in Healthy Adults Evaluating PF-07202954 Completed
  39. Phase 1 Study of Changes in Hepatic Fat Following Administration of MK-4074 and Pioglitazone Hydrochloride (MK-4074-008) Completed
  40. Phase 1 2-Week Study In People With Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Completed
  41. N/A Efficacy of a Natural Components Mixture in the Treatment of Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) Completed
  42. N/A Fucoidan Improves the Metabolic Profiles of Patients With Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) Completed
  43. N/A Sonoelastography: Ultrasound Method to Measure Liver Fibrosis Completed
  44. N/A The Effect of HIT in Patients With Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/Steatohepatitis Completed

Showing the 50 most-cited and recently-updated of 70 trials. Browse the full registry →

Trial data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. Counts describe the research landscape and are not a treatment recommendation. Informational only — not medical advice.

What the trials found Updated — new results For clinicians

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: what the trials found

Diagnostic imaging research has established correlations between MRI-PDFF liver fat percentages and various ultrasound biomarkers. Specifically, MRI-PDFF measurements showed a correlation of 1.7 with the Hepatorenal Index (HRI) [4, 5], a correlation of 0.6 to 1.0 with Acoustic Attenuation [4, 5], and a correlation of 5.9 to 6.6 with Tissue Stiffness [4, 5].

Pharmacological interventions have been evaluated in several phases. Pioglitazone was studied for its impact on histological scores and the prevention/reversal of T2DM or pre-diabetic states 6. Other established trials included evaluations of OMACOR 7, Exenatide [8, 9], Semaglutide 10, and SAMe 11.

Recent results — preliminary, needs further review

  • Vitamin E demonstrated a significant reduction in serum Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) from baseline to 24 weeks (p=<0.0001), with approximately 10-24% of patients achieving ALT normalization (p=0.004) 2.
  • Efinopegdutide was associated with mean body weight reductions at week 28 (-3.9% to -7.5%) and significant reductions in liver fat content (LFC) via MRI-PDFF at 24 weeks (p=<0.0001) [1, 18].
  • The compound PF-06865571 showed a statistically significant reduction in liver fat percentage as measured by MRI-PDFF at week 6 (p=<0.0001) 21.
  • Tesamorelin was evaluated for NAFLD Activity Score and Fibrosis Score, both of which showed no change (0) in the study cohort 12.

For the clinician treating this condition

  • MRI-PDFF is a validated tool for quantifying liver fat, showing significant correlation with ultrasound biomarkers such as Hepatorenal Index and Tissue Stiffness.
  • Vitamin E has shown statistically significant efficacy in reducing ALT levels and achieving ALT normalization in patients with NAFLD.
  • Novel agents like Efinopegdutide and PF-06865571 show promising results in reducing liver fat content via MRI-PDFF imaging.

AI synthesis of 7 cited trials, updated Jun 29, 2026. Informational only — not medical advice; trial data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. How we use AI.

HCP Mode — summaries include clinical detail, trial data, and statistical outcomes.
Patient Mode — summaries use plain language, avoiding clinical jargon.

Research across Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease

Related studies from across the Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease family.

Proposed pathway for systematic MASLD/MASH assessment in type 2 diabetes
Diabetes & Endocrinology Sys. Review
Proposed pathway for systematic MASLD/MASH assessment in type 2 diabetes New Pathway Proposed to Manage Liver Disease in Diabetes Patients
This narrative review proposes a structured, risk-adapted outpatient pathway for MASLD/MASH assessment in patients with type 2 diabetes, sta…
A new proposed management plan aims to help people with type 2 diabetes identify and assess liver conditions more systematically.
Four specific miRNAs in extracellular vesicles satisfy high-tier causality for metabolic and inflammatory regulation
Hematology Sys. Review
Four specific miRNAs in extracellular vesicles satisfy high-tier causality for metabolic and inflammatory regulation Extracellular Vesicles Show Potential for Managing Metabolic Health Conditions
This systematic review evaluates the role of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in managing obesity, type 2 diabetes, MASLD, and atherosclerosis. …
New research identifies specific molecules within extracellular vesicles that may play a role in managing obesity, diabetes, and liver disea…
Novel pharmacotherapies like resmetirom and GLP-1 receptor agonists offer potential concurrent hepatic and cardiovascular benefits
Cardiology Sys. Review
Novel pharmacotherapies like resmetirom and GLP-1 receptor agonists offer potential concurrent hepatic and cardiovascular benefits New Medications Show Potential to Treat Liver and Heart Disease
This systematic review examines the epidemiological links and shared pathophysiological mechanisms between metabolic dysfunction-associated …
Newer drugs like resmetirom and GLP-1 receptor agonists may offer dual benefits for patients with both liver and heart conditions.
Intensive CV management reduces cIMT progression in RA patients without hepatic steatosis
Gastroenterology RCT
Intensive CV management reduces cIMT progression in RA patients without hepatic steatosis Liver health impacts heart risk management in rheumatoid arthritis
This post-hoc analysis of a randomized controlled trial involving 236 patients with rheumatoid arthritis evaluated intensive cardiovascular …
Patients with liver fat and rheumatoid arthritis show worse heart markers, but intensive care only slowed artery thickening for those withou…
Dapagliflozin plus pioglitazone reduces HbA1c by 0.49% and improves liver fat content in T2DM
Diabetes & Endocrinology Meta-analysis
Dapagliflozin plus pioglitazone reduces HbA1c by 0.49% and improves liver fat content in T2DM Combination Therapy Shows Promise for Diabetes and Liver Health
This systematic review and meta-analysis of 1411 patients found that dapagliflozin plus pioglitazone significantly improved glycemic control…
A combination of two medications may improve blood sugar levels and reduce liver fat in adults living with type 2 diabetes.
Unified cardiometabolic disease framework links T2DM, ASCVD, HFpEF, MASLD, hypertension, and CKD via shared pathophysiology
Cardiology Guideline
Unified cardiometabolic disease framework links T2DM, ASCVD, HFpEF, MASLD, hypertension, and CKD via shared pathophysiology New Framework Links Heart and Kidney Health in Diabetes
This guideline provides a narrative review of the unified cardiometabolic disease (UCD) continuum. It argues that conditions like T2DM, ASCV…
Experts suggest that diabetes, heart failure, and kidney disease may share a single underlying cause rather than being separate conditions.
Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease prevalence reaches 56.9% among diabetic adults in India
Diabetes & Endocrinology Meta-analysis
Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease prevalence reaches 56.9% among diabetic adults in India More than half of Indian adults with Type 2 Diabetes have liver disease
This systematic review and meta-analysis of 18 studies found a pooled MASLD prevalence of 56.9% among adult patients with Type 2 Diabetes Me…
Over half of adults in India with Type 2 Diabetes also have a fatty liver condition, highlighting a major link between these two health issu…
Immune crosstalk between innate and adaptive compartments drives inflammatory mechanisms in MASLD and MASH progression
Gastroenterology Sys. Review
Immune crosstalk between innate and adaptive compartments drives inflammatory mechanisms in MASLD and MASH progression Immune system crosstalk drives fatty liver disease progression
This systematic review examines the role of immune system interactions in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) a…
A new review reveals that immune cells talking to each other may be what pushes fatty liver disease toward severe liver damage.
Citrus grandis Tomentosa flavonoids ameliorate hepatic steatosis and inflammatory responses in experimental MASLD models
Drug Pipeline Sys. Review
Citrus grandis Tomentosa flavonoids ameliorate hepatic steatosis and inflammatory responses in experimental MASLD models Citrus flavonoids show potential in treating fatty liver disease
This scoping review synthesizes preclinical data on the efficacy of Citrus grandis Tomentosa (CGT) flavonoids in metabolic dysfunction-assoc…
New research suggests specific citrus compounds may reduce inflammation and fat buildup in the liver, offering a possible path for future tr…
Supervised structured exercise improves cardiorespiratory fitness in adults with MASLD by 3.52 mL/kg/min
Pulmonology & Critical Care Meta-analysis
Supervised structured exercise improves cardiorespiratory fitness in adults with MASLD by 3.52 mL/kg/min Supervised Exercise Improves Heart Fitness in MASLD Patients
This systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of RCTs indicates that supervised structured exercise significantly improves cardiore…
New research shows that supervised, structured exercise significantly improves heart and lung fitness for adults living with MASLD.
Lower liver-expressed TRIB1AL levels are associated with reduced liver fat and cardiovascular risk
Gastroenterology Meta-analysis
Lower liver-expressed TRIB1AL levels are associated with reduced liver fat and cardiovascular risk Genetic research identifies a new target for fatty liver disease
This meta-analysis examines the role of long noncoding RNA TRIB1AL in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). The …
Researchers identified a specific gene, TRIB1AL, that could be a key target for treating fatty liver and heart health issues.
Circular RNAs regulate hepatic lipid metabolism in NAFLD and MASLD via key signaling pathways
Genetics & Precision Medicine Sys. Review
Circular RNAs regulate hepatic lipid metabolism in NAFLD and MASLD via key signaling pathways Circular RNAs May Offer New Paths for Fatty Liver Disease
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Questions about Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Do quercetin and apigenin show promise for treating non-alcoholic fatty liver disease?

Yes, quercetin and apigenin show promise for NAFLD by reducing liver fat and inflammation, but most evidence comes from lab and animal studies; human trials are limited.

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How does exercise training improve metabolic markers for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease?

Exercise training reduces liver fat, lowers blood sugar and insulin, and improves mitochondrial function in people with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

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Does exercise training help reduce liver fat in people with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease?

Yes, exercise training reduces liver fat in people with NAFLD, with high-intensity interval training and aerobic exercise showing the strongest effects.

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What are the current management options for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease?

Current management for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease focuses on lifestyle changes like weight loss and exercise, while new drug options are being studied but none are yet approved in the United States.

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Does eating ultra-processed food make my nonalcoholic fatty liver disease worse?

Eating ultra-processed foods is linked to obesity and metabolic disease, which are major drivers of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

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What are the management options for NAFLD and NASH without trial data?

Lifestyle changes (diet, exercise, weight loss) are the mainstay of NAFLD/NASH management; vitamin E and some medications may help, but always consult your doctor.

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Which other digestive conditions are linked to Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in recent reviews?

Recent reviews link NAFLD to periodontitis, type 2 diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and bile acid-related conditions like IBS-D and CRC.

Full answer →
Does ketotifen work better than vitamin E for treating Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease?

A pilot study suggests ketotifen may improve liver fat and fibrosis more than vitamin E in NAFLD, but more research is needed.

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See all 10 questions about Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease →

All Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Articles