Improving liver mitochondria in people with fatty liver using insulin-sensitizing medicines
Targeting hepatic mitochondrial function in humans with NAFLD using insulin sensitizers
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HLTH SCIENCE CENTER · NIH-11323087
Doctors will try insulin-sensitizing medicines to boost liver cell energy and reduce liver fat in adults with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HLTH SCIENCE CENTER (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (SAN ANTONIO, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11323087 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If you join, researchers will give insulin-sensitizing medicines and track changes in how your liver mitochondria produce energy, using blood tests, metabolic studies, and imaging and sometimes liver tissue samples. They plan to enroll adults with NAFLD, including those with insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes, and measure mitochondrial activity such as TCA cycle flux and markers of oxidative stress. The team will compare measurements taken before and after treatment to see if improving insulin sensitivity lowers liver fat, oxidative damage, and signs of inflammation. Safety and side effects will be monitored throughout the treatment period.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), especially those with insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes who can attend clinic visits and testing, are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without NAFLD, those with advanced cirrhosis, or anyone who cannot take insulin-sensitizing drugs due to contraindications may not benefit or be eligible.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lower liver fat and reduce the chance of progression from NAFL to NASH, cirrhosis, or liver cancer.
How similar studies have performed: Some insulin-sensitizing drugs (for example, pioglitazone) have helped people with NAFLD/NASH in prior trials, but directly targeting mitochondrial function in humans is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
SAN ANTONIO, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HLTH SCIENCE CENTER — SAN ANTONIO, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: NORTON, LUKE — UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HLTH SCIENCE CENTER
- Study coordinator: NORTON, LUKE
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 below.
Conditions: Adult-Onset Diabetes Mellitus