Digital app to help adults with MAFLD manage weight and blood sugar

A Multicenter, Randomized, Crossover Clinical Trial Study of Digital Intelligence Software in Patients With MAFLD

This trial tests a digital intelligence app that gives remote monitoring, lifestyle guidance, and follow-up to see if it helps adults with MAFLD lose weight and improve blood glucose control.

Quick facts

• Phase: Not applicable
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 2000 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 65 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University (Academic / other)
• Drugs / interventions: chemotherapy, radiation, methotrexate
• Locations: 1 site (Hangzhou, Zhejiang)
• Trial ID: NCT07233486 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This is a randomized crossover trial testing a digital intelligence software intervention versus usual care in adults with MAFLD. Participants who meet imaging-based MAFLD criteria and BMI limits will use a compatible smartphone app for remote data collection, lifestyle intervention guidance, and follow-up management during the intervention period. The study measures changes in body weight and blood glucose as primary outcomes and monitors safety throughout. The trial requires stable diabetes or other relevant medications before entry and excludes patients with evidence of cirrhosis.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults 18–65 years old with BMI 24–35 kg/m², imaging-confirmed MAFLD (FibroScan >248 dB/m or MRI-PDFF >5%), a compatible smartphone, and stable medication regimens if treated for T2DM or on NASH-remitting drugs.

Not a fit: Patients with evidence of cirrhosis, those outside the age/BMI ranges, people without a compatible smartphone, or those with unstable diabetes or other therapy changes are unlikely to benefit from this intervention.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the app could help patients with MAFLD lose weight and improve blood sugar control through structured remote lifestyle support.

How similar studies have performed: Lifestyle and digital health interventions have shown benefits for weight loss and glycemic control in related fatty liver populations, but use of specific 'digital intelligence' platforms for MAFLD management is relatively new with limited direct evidence.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria

1. Adult patients aged 18-65 years with a BMI of 24-35 kg/m².
2. Confirmed diagnosis of Metabolic-associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD), defined by a FibroScan® result \> 248 dB/m or an MRI-PDFF \> 5%.
3. Willing and able to provide written informed consent and comply with the study protocol, including the use of a compatible smartphone for digital health components.
4. If treated for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), must be on a stable medication regimen for at least 3 months prior to baseline (Day 0), with the expectation to maintain stability throughout the study barring medical necessity.
5. If taking medications with potential NASH-remitting effects (e.g., vitamin E, thiazolidinediones), must be on a stable dose for at least 3 months prior to Day 0.

Exclusion Criteria

1. Subjects were excluded from participation if they met any of the following criteria, based on the most recent pre-randomization assessments:
2. Evidence of cirrhosis, defined as histological stage F4 or its clinical equivalent.
3. History of heavy alcohol consumption (\>30 g/day for males, \>20 g/day for females) for more than 3 consecutive months within one year prior to screening.
4. Prior or planned solid organ transplantation (excluding corneal transplants).
5. Planned bariatric surgery. A history of bariatric surgery was permitted only if weight had been stable (variation \<10%) for at least 3 months prior to screening.
6. Presence of other chronic liver diseases, including:
7. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positivity.
8. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA positivity.
9. Primary biliary cholangitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, autoimmune hepatitis, or overlap syndromes.
10. Wilson's disease, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (ZZ phenotype), or hereditary hemochromatosis.
11. History of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus. Uncontrolled Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, defined as HbA1c \>9% or current insulin therapy.
12. History of hepatic decompensation events (e.g., ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, variceal hemorrhage).
13. Any of the following laboratory abnormalities at screening:
14. Platelet count \< 150,000/mm³
15. Albumin \< 3.0 g/dL
16. International Normalized Ratio (INR) \> 1.3
17. Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) \> 2 × Upper Limit of Normal (ULN)
18. Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) or Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) \> 5 × ULN
19. Total Bilirubin \> 1.3 × ULN (except in cases of documented Gilbert's syndrome)
20. Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) \< 60 mL/min/1.73 m²
21. Hemoglobin \< 10 g/dL
22. Uncontrolled thyroid dysfunction, defined as a thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level \< 0.1 or \> 10 µIU/mL at screening.
23. Documented HIV-1 or HIV-2 infection.
24. Known Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency.
25. Significant cardiovascular history, including myocardial infarction, unstable angina, heart failure, uncontrolled arrhythmia, coronary artery bypass graft, or percutaneous coronary intervention within one year prior to screening.
26. Diagnosis of malignancy within the past 2 years (except for adequately treated basal cell carcinoma or cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma).
27. Severe co-morbid respiratory, cardiac, cerebrovascular, hepatic, or renal conditions that, in the investigator's judgment, would preclude safe participation in a diet and exercise intervention.
28. Active, severe infection requiring parenteral antimicrobial therapy within 30 days of screening.
29. Major surgery within 30 days prior to screening.
30. Chronic use of medications known to promote hepatic steatosis (e.g., systemic corticosteroids, amiodarone, methotrexate, tamoxifen, valproic acid) within 3 months of screening. Short-term, low-dose corticosteroid use was permissible.
31. Current or planned treatment with radiation therapy, cytotoxic chemotherapy, or immunomodulatory agents (e.g., interleukins, interferons).
32. Treatment with any investigational agent within 6 months prior to screening, or prior participation in a clinical trial for NASH/MAFLD within 6 months.

Pregnancy or lactation.

1.Any other condition or circumstance that, in the opinion of the Investigator, would compromise patient safety or the validity of the study data.

Where this trial is running

Hangzhou, Zhejiang

• Hangzhou Normal University Hospital — Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: junping shi, doctor's degree

Conditions MAFLD