Overview
Cirrhosis associated with metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) can lead to a series of adverse outcomes in and outside the liver, but there is no approved treatment so far. In recent years, the prevalence of MAFLD-related cirrhosis in our country is increasing rapidly, but its clinical, pathological characteristics and natural prognosis are not clear, and there is a lack of standardized and effective prevention and treatment strategies.Through"Digital Intelligence software" to assist clinicians in MAFLD patients with remote data intervention, lifestyle intervention guidance and follow-up management, to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the intervention software on body weight and blood glucose in patients with MAFLD.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria
- Adult patients aged 18-65 years with a BMI of 24-35 kg/m².
- Confirmed diagnosis of Metabolic-associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD), defined by a FibroScan® result \> 248 dB/m or an MRI-PDFF \> 5%.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
- Subjects were excluded from participation if they met any of the following criteria, based on the most recent pre-randomization assessments:
- Evidence of cirrhosis, defined as histological stage F4 or its clinical equivalent.
- 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.
- Prior or planned solid organ transplantation (excluding corneal transplants).
- 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.
- Presence of other chronic liver diseases, including:
- Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positivity.
- Hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA positivity.
- Primary biliary cholangitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, autoimmune hepatitis, or overlap syndromes.
- Wilson's disease, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (ZZ phenotype), or hereditary hemochromatosis.
- History of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus. Uncontrolled Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, defined as HbA1c \>9% or current insulin therapy.
- History of hepatic decompensation events (e.g., ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, variceal hemorrhage).
- Any of the following laboratory abnormalities at screening:
- Platelet count \< 150,000/mm³
- Albumin \< 3.0 g/dL
- International Normalized Ratio (INR) \> 1.3
- Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) \> 2 × Upper Limit of Normal (ULN)
- Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) or Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) \> 5 × ULN
- Total Bilirubin \> 1.3 × ULN (except in cases of documented Gilbert's syndrome)
- Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) \< 60 mL/min/1.73 m²
- Hemoglobin \< 10 g/dL
- Uncontrolled thyroid dysfunction, defined as a thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level \< 0.1 or \> 10 µIU/mL at screening.
- Documented HIV-1 or HIV-2 infection.
- Known Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency.
- 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.
- Diagnosis of malignancy within the past 2 years (except for adequately treated basal cell carcinoma or cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma).
- 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.
- Active, severe infection requiring parenteral antimicrobial therapy within 30 days of screening.
- Major surgery within 30 days prior to screening.
- 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.
- Current or planned treatment with radiation therapy, cytotoxic chemotherapy, or immunomodulatory agents (e.g., interleukins, interferons).
- 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.