High-intensity interval training for fatty liver in adults with overweight or obesity
RENACE Study: Rehabilitation With Exercise-Based Intervention for Nonalcoholic Chronic Hepatic Esteatosis
This will test whether supervised high-intensity interval training (HIIT) can improve liver health in adults 18–59 with overweight or obesity and metabolic-associated steatotic liver disease.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 30 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 59 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Universidad San Sebastián Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Valdivia, Los Ríos Region) |
| Trial ID | NCT07552727 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This is a single-blind, randomized trial enrolling 30 adults from the Los Ríos Region with BMI >25 kg/m² and chronic metabolic conditions; participants will be assigned to a supervised HIIT group (n=15) or a non-trained control group (n=15). Sessions will be conducted in person at the Centro de Estudios Cientificos in Valdivia and exercise readiness will be confirmed with the PAR-Q+. Liver status will be measured using FibroScan at baseline and follow-up to detect changes in steatosis and stiffness, alongside standard metabolic measures. The trial tests whether HIIT improves liver-related outcomes even without major weight loss and whether FibroScan is useful for monitoring conservative management.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults aged 18–59 living in the Los Ríos Region with BMI >25 kg/m² and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease who are medically cleared and able to perform supervised exercise are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People with other liver diseases, excessive alcohol use, pregnancy, contraindicating cardiovascular or musculoskeletal conditions, or inability to attend in-person sessions are unlikely to benefit from this intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could offer a time-efficient exercise option to reduce liver fat and improve liver status while using FibroScan as a noninvasive monitoring tool.
How similar studies have performed: Previous exercise studies, including HIIT, have shown reductions in liver fat and metabolic improvements, so the approach has supporting evidence although using FibroScan for routine monitoring in this exact setup is less extensively reported.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * 18 to 59 years from the Los Ríos Region * Overweight or obesity (BMI \>25 kg/m²) * Diagnosis of a chronic noncommunicable disease such as insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes * Fit to perform physical activity/exercise * Exercise readiness will be confirmed using the PAR-Q+ questionnaire Exclusion Criteria: * Excessive alcohol consumption * Liver diseases of other etiologies * Musculoskeletal and/or cardiovascular conditions that contraindicate exercise - Inability to attend in-person exercise sessions, or pregnancy
Where this trial is running
Valdivia, Los Ríos Region
- Centro de Estudios Cientificos — Valdivia, Los Ríos Region, Chile (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Sergio Martínez Huenchullán, PhD — Universidad San Sebastián
- Study coordinator: Sergio Martinez-Huenchullan, PhD
- Email: sergio.martinez@uss.cl
- Phone: 56962859896
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.