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Liver Fat and Glucagon Resistance

NCT06154096 · Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING · Type: OBSERVATIONAL · Enrollment: 20

Last updated 2023-12-01

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

One in four adults worldwide have too much fat stored in the liver which is known as metabolic associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). This was previously known as non- alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This can lead to liver failure and death in severe cases. Unfortunately, there are no specific drugs to treat MASLD.

Glucagon is a natural hormone that controls how the body stores and uses fuel. Glucagon acts on liver cells to use protein and fat to make sugar. It decreases the amount of liver fat.

The investigators think that patients with MASLD may not respond to the actions of glucagon. This could contribute to the build-up of fat in the liver.

In this study the investigators will be investigating the effects of glucagon on protein breakdown and sugar production in patients with and without MASLD.

Healthy volunteers and patients with MASLD will attend for one study visit each which will last for 4-5 hours. During this time they will have infusions into a vein of glucagon and other hormones, amino acids (to mimic the fed state) and 'tracers'. From another vein they will have several blood samples during this period. By analysing these blood samples the investigators will be able to measure the effects of glucagon on protein and glucose turnover (metabolism), and whether this differs between healthy volunteers and those with MASLD.

If the investigators find that patients with MASLD are resistant to the actions of glucagon, this could help with the development of drugs to treat MASLD.

Conditions

  • Steatosis of Liver

Interventions

OTHER

Acute glucagon infusion

All subjects will undergo an amino acid infusion and pancreatic clamp during which they will have stable isotope turnover of glucose and alanine measured in two steady state periods - firstly, with low-dose glucagon infusion and secondly, with high-dose glucagon infusion

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Imperial College London

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Emma Rose McGlone, PhD · Imperial College London

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2024-03-31
Primary Completion
2024-09-30
Completion
2024-09-30

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT06154096 on ClinicalTrials.gov