Comparing Effects of Liraglutide and Bariatric Surgery on Weight Loss, Liver Function, Body Composition, Insulin Resistance, Endothelial Function and Biomarkers of Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) in Obese Asian Adults

Sponsor
Changi General Hospital
Study ID
NCT02654665
Phase
PHASE3
Status
Unknown

Conditions

  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)
  • Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH)
  • Weight Loss

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
21 Years - 65 Years
Healthy Volunteers
Accepted

Interventions

  • Lifestyle modification — BEHAVIORAL
    Diet and exercise designed for 5-7% weight loss over 6 months
  • Liraglutide — DRUG
    GLP-1 agonist

Study Details

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is defined by presence of hepatic steatosis (fat accumulation in liver cells), either by imaging or by biopsy and absence of causes for secondary hepatic fat accumulation such as significant alcohol consumption, medications, or hereditary disorders. In the majority of patients, NAFLD is associated with risk factors for cardiovascular disease such as obesity, diabetes mellitus, and high cholesterol, and may lead to irreversible liver damage. Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a more severe form of NAFLD and is present in up to 30% of obese adults. NASH is defined by hepatic steatosis and inflammation with hepatocyte injury with or without fibrosis (hardening of the liver). The prevalence, morbidity and mortality of NAFLD is increasing, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region where there will be an estimated 300 million obese people by 2030. Weight loss is the first-line treatment for NAFLD in obese individuals, but the utility of lifestyle modification with diet and exercise is limited by difficulties in sustaining compliance and by eventual weight regain. Bariatric (weight loss) surgery produces the greatest amount of weight loss but is limited by cost, patient acceptance, and complications. The efficacy of drugs for NASH, such as vitamin E and medication to lower cholesterol and glucose, remains unclear. Liraglutide, a glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1) analogue, is an injectable medication which has been shown to induce weight loss and lower glucose in obese adults. There is little information on the effects of GLP-1 analogues on NASH, particularly in comparison to other modalities of weight loss such as surgery. This study aims to compare the efficacy and safety of lifestyle modification, liraglutide and surgery, for weight loss in conjunction with reducing severity of NASH, and for insulin resistance, high cholesterol and other cardiovascular risk factors.

Key Dates

Start date
Mar 31, 2014
Status verified
Jan 2018
Primary completion
Dec 31, 2017
Completion
Dec 31, 2018

Study Design

Enrollment
36 participants (estimated)
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT

Arms

  • Experimental: Liraglutide
    Liraglutide will be administered once daily by subcutaneous injection at a starting dose of 0.6 mg, increasing at 0.6 mg/week increments to a maximum of 3.0 mg over the next 6 weeks, as tolerated.
  • Active Comparator: Bariatric Surgery
    Subjects will have outcomes measured within 28 days before surgery. Post-operative management and frequency of follow-up visits will be decided by the bariatric surgeon. Study visits for biochemical and endothelial function testing; MRI and liver biopsy and / or fibroscan will follow the same schedule as that of the lifestyle and liraglutide arms. Target weight loss for the first 26 weeks post-surgery is at least 30% of excess body weight.
  • Active Comparator: Diet modification and exercise
    Exercise will be used to induce and maintain weight loss in a 26-week Weight Management Program. Each subject will follow an aerobic exercise prescription of moderate intensity (60-75% maximum heart rate) to expend 2000-3000 kcal/week, lasting 30-60 minutes each session (over 5-7 sessions). Subjects will be instructed by sports trainers, compliance reviewed and adjusted if necessary to maintain the targeted total energy expenditure to produce weight loss of at least 7% over 26 weeks.

Primary Outcome Measure

Improvement in NASH [ Time Frame: 12 months ]

Central Contacts

  • Ai-Wyn Tan
    +6568501924

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