Tier 2 — strong

Use of a Micronutrient Cocktail to Improve Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) in Adults with Obesity: A Randomized, Double-Blinded Pilot Clinical Trial

Iulia Teodora Perva, Iulia Elena Simina, Renata Bende, Alexandru Cătălin Motofelea, Adela Chirita Emandi, Nicoleta Andreescu, Alexandra Sima, Adrian Vlad, Ioan Sporea, Cristian Zimbru, Paul Calin Tutac, Maria Puiu, Mihai Dinu Niculescu
Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) 2024 60(8):1366

Bibliography

PubMed
PMID 39202647
PubMed Central
PMC11356300
DOI
10.3390/medicina60081366
Funding
Reported funding/support: Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, TimisoaraPOC Project “Use of nutrigenomic models for the personalized treatment with medical foods in obese people” (NutriGen) 2016–2019SMIS: 104852, 91/09.09.2016, ID P_37-684The costs of publication were supported by Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions drawn in this study remain entirely independent of the financial support provided. This research was funded by the POC Project “Use of nutrigenomic models for the personalized treatment with medical foods in obese people” (NutriGen) 2016–2019, SMIS: 104852, 91/09.09.2016, ID P_37-684.
Competing interests
Reported disclosure: Author Mihai Dinu Niculescu was employed by the company Advanced Nutrigenomics LLC. The remaining authors have not identified any potential conflicts of interest. The company has not received any direct benefit from this study or article. Niculescu has kindly provided his expertise in developing the study outline and throughout the entire process.

Study snapshot

DesignRandomized controlled trial
ModelHuman participants
Sample155 adults with obesity and metabolic syndrome
InterventionMulti-nutrient cocktail containing betaine, choline, folate, omega-3 fats and B12 versus placebo
Duration3 months
EndpointsLiver fat by CAP; Liver stiffness

What the study showed, in plain terms

Published in 2024, this source examined metabolic health and liver trials. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Sample/model: 155 adults with obesity and metabolic syndrome. The exposure or intervention was Multi-nutrient cocktail containing betaine, choline, folate, omega-3 fats and B12 versus placebo. Follow-up or treatment period: 3 months.

CAP and liver-stiffness measurements decreased more with the nutrient cocktail.

Several active ingredients prevent isolation of betaine's contribution. A short-term fall in liver stiffness is not the same as biopsy-proven fibrosis reversal.

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Key findings

  • CAP and liver-stiffness measurements decreased more with the nutrient cocktail.
  • The recorded outcome domains were Liver fat by CAP; Liver stiffness.
  • The result applies to the tested exposure: Multi-nutrient cocktail containing betaine, choline, folate, omega-3 fats and B12 versus placebo; 3 months.

What this study can and cannot tell us

  • Several active ingredients prevent isolation of betaine's contribution. A short-term fall in liver stiffness is not the same as biopsy-proven fibrosis reversal.
  • An individual controlled trial must be interpreted alongside its comparator, sample size, endpoint selection and independent replication. It does not validate a different commercial formulation or a general longevity claim.
  • Source basis: Accessible full-text extract plus indexed bibliographic data. Missing method details, funding information or participant denominators are not inferred.

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Dr. Khaled Mahmoud, MBBChCritical Care Medicine, Longevity Science & Editorial Direction Dr. Amr Yasser, PhDCardiometabolic, Musculoskeletal, Gut & Bioavailability Dr. Abdulla Mostafa, PhDCellular Senescence, Neurological, Mitochondrial & Brain-Ageing Biology