Overview of intervention studies which have investigated the effect of hypocaloric feeding on liver fat content
Ref | Design | Subjects | Intervention | Energy | Duration | Change in body mass | Change in liver fat |
148 | SG | 10 M+F NAFLD 45.5 yearsa (34.5–51.5 years)b 31.1 kg/m2a (25.6–40.6 kg/m2)b | ↓ 50% Fru | Ad libitum energy intake with repeat dietary consultations (every 2 weeks) | 6 months | ↓ 3%* | ↓ 36%±26%* |
150 | R/P | 22 M+F 43.6±2.5 years 36.5±0.8 kg/m2 | High-CHO (>180 g/day) versus low-CHO (<60 g/day) | ↓1000 kcal/day | ~6 weeks Followed by 4 week weight maintenance | ↓ 7.5%±0.4%c* NSD between groups | Low-CHO: ↓38.0%±4.5%* High-CHO: ↓44.5%±13.5%* NSD between groups |
149 | P | 18 M+F NAFLD 45±12 yearsd 35±7 kg/m2d | Low-CHO (<20 g/day) diet versus low kcal (1200–1500 kcal/day) | Low-CHO: 1553±517 kcal/day Low kcal: 1325±180 kcal/day | 2 weeks | Low-CHO: ↓ 4.6±1.5 kg* Low-kcal: ↓ 4.0±1.5 kg* NSD between groups | Low-CHO: ↓ 55%±14%* Low-kcal: ↓ 28%±23%*# |
143 | R/P | 102 M+F 30–60 yearse 25–45 kg/m2e | Low-CHO (<90 g/day) versus low-fat (<20% TE) | ↓ 30% TE | 6 months | Low-CHO: ↓ 7.6±0.6 kg* Low-fat: ↓ 6.5±0.7 kg* NSD between groups | Low-CHO: ↓ 47%* Low-fat: ↓ 42%* NSD between groups |
144 | R/P | 70 F 50-70 yearse 25–40 kg/m2e | Paleo diet (40% TE fat) versus low-fat diet (25%–30% TE fat) | Ad libitum energy intake, repeat dietary consultations | 6 months 2 years | 6 months: Paleo: ↓ 9 kgf* Low-fat: ↓ 4 kgf*# 2 years: Paleo: ↓ 8 kgf* Low-fat:↓ 5 kgf* NSD between gps at 2 years | 6 months: Paleo: ↓ 64%* Low-fat: ↓43%*# 2 years: Paleo: ↓50%* Low-fat: ↓49%* NSD between gps at 2 years |
146 | SG | 18 M+F 50 yearsa (34–57 years)g 44 kg/m2a(40–51 kg/m2)g | VLCD | 450-800 kcal/day | 6 weeks | ↓ 15.1%a (9.6–21.1%)g* | ↓ 43%* |
147 | SG | 30 M+F T2DM 25–80 yearse 27–45 kg/m2e | VLCD Participants separated based on FPG at follow-up Responders: <7 mmol/L Non-responders: >7 mmol/L | 624–700 kcal/day | 8 weeks Followed by 6 months weight maintenance | ↓ 14%f* | Responders: ↓ 83%* Non-responders: ↓ 73%* NSD between groups |
129 | SG | 16 M+F 54 yearsa (40–59 years)g 30.6±1.2 kg/m2 | Dietary consultation (repeated every 3 weeks) | Ad libitum energy | 6 months | ↓ 4%* | ↓ 25%* |
145 | P | 27 F (previous history of gestational diabetes) 20–50 yearse 28–35 kg/m2e | Targeted weight loss (balanced diet). Participants separated based on baseline liver fat; High: >5% Low: <5% | ↓ 600–800 kcal/day | 3–6 months (dependent on time to ↓ BM by 8%) | High: ↓ 7.4%±0.2%* Low: ↓ 7.7%±0.3%* NSD between groups. | High: ↓ 49%* Low: ↓ 39%*# |
142 | R/P | 37 M+F 35–70 yearse 28–35 kg/m2e | Hypocaloric+placebo versus hypocaloric+rimonabant (20 mg) | ↓ 600–800kcal/day | 11 months | Placebo: ↓ 1.7±1.0 kg Rimonabant:↓ 8.5±1.4 kg* | Placebo: ↓ 28% Rimonabant: ↓ 69%*# |
Subject data presented as mean±SEM unless otherwise stated.
a Median.
b Range.
c Pooled data.
d SD.
e Inclusion criteria or estimated range within which all participants are included.
f Estimated from table/graph.
g IQR.
*Significant effect of intervention (p< 0.05) according to the manuscript.
# Significant difference between groups (p< 0.05) according to the manuscript.
BM, body mass; CHO, carbohydrate; FPG, fasting plasma glucose; F, Female; T2DM, type 2 diabetes mellitus; Fru, fructose; M, male; NSD, no significant difference; P, parallel groups; R, randomised; Ref, reference; SG, single group; total energy; VLCD, very low calorie diet.