A diet with reduced carbohydrates to improve liver health in adolescents with fatty liver disease
Official title: Moderately CHO-restricted diet as treatment targeting improvement in hepatic lipid and insulin sensitivity in adolescents with NAFLD
Funded at University of Alabama at Birmingham · NIH-11109565 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a diet with fewer carbohydrates can help teenagers with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease improve their liver health and insulin sensitivity, making it easier for them to avoid more serious health issues later on.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project start | May 5, 2021 |
| Project end | April 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $582,665 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK128457-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11109565 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adolescents diagnosed with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have NAFLD or those with advanced liver disease requiring immediate medical intervention may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the effects of a moderately carbohydrate-restricted diet on adolescents suffering from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The study aims to determine if this dietary approach can improve liver lipid levels and insulin sensitivity, which are critical for preventing the progression of NAFLD to more severe liver conditions and related diseases like type 2 diabetes. Participants will be guided through dietary changes and monitored for improvements in their liver health and metabolic function. The research seeks to establish evidence-based dietary guidelines for managing NAFLD in young patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a non-pharmaceutical dietary intervention to effectively reverse NAFLD and prevent its progression in adolescents.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results with dietary interventions in managing NAFLD, indicating that this approach may be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Goss, Amy Miskimon — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Goss, Amy Miskimon
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Lipid signals that control acetyl-CoA and fat metabolism in NAFLD
A study exploring how membrane lipids influence acetyl-CoA metabolism to understand and potentially treat nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
-
How clock-watching lifestyle affects fats, blood vessels, and insulin in night-shift workers
This study looks at how being awake and active at night changes lipids in the blood and muscle and what that means for blood vessel function and insulin in adults who work night shifts.
-
Long-term study of NAFLD progression and gut bacteria in diverse groups
We’re following people over time to see how the gut microbiome and diet relate to fatty liver disease progression in diverse racial/ethnic groups.
-
Genetic and environmental risk for fatty liver cancer in Latinos (GENIAL)
A study to understand why Latino people with fatty liver disease might be more likely to develop liver cancer and to use genetic and environmental clues to predict who is at higher risk.
-
Toxic fats, vitamin B12 loss, and AHR may drive fatty liver disease
This grant looks at how certain environmental chemicals may trigger liver damage linked to fatty liver disease and how a vitamin found in the blood could be affected.
-
Role of cholesterol metabolism in toxin-driven liver disease
This grant explores how a liver toxin called TCDD affects cholesterol and fatty liver disease, and how a key enzyme (HMGCR) might change that risk in adults.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.