Affecting an estimated one in five people in the UK, non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) sees fat build up in the liver causing inflammation, unmanaged NAFLD leads to scarring (cirrhosis) and ultimately liver failure. The WELCOME* study was a clinical trial involving 100 volunteers with NAFLD recruited from centres across the South of England.
The WELCOME study established that for most participants taking Omacor, a highly purified omega-3 fatty acid, reduced liver fat whilst increasing levels of beneficial omega-3 fat in other tissue of the body. Volunteers attended the NIHR Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility for eight visits over 18 months: three baseline visits, two follow-up visits and three end-of-study visits. The final study visit was in December 2012.
A wide range of beneficial tests
Participants were given a comprehensive body ‘MOT’ by taking part in a range of tests related to the liver, body composition, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. “It was an excellent way of participating in an experiment and finding out how my own body worked,” said Eric Cooke, trial participant.
Volunteer event June 2013
The June event gave participants insight into the implications of the results through presentations from the team, enabling reflection on their involvement in the study and on a range of health topics related to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. “I have found out some interesting things that may actually help me so I'm really grateful,” explained Deborah Collins, trial participant.
Earning applause and thanks for their hard work, the study team were pleased to discuss the work and engage again with the people who had helped make it happen. “It was a very enjoyable day” said Professor Christopher Byrne, who led the study. “I was delighted the participants had enjoyed the experience of contributing to extremely important new results, which show that many people with NAFLD, albeit not all, will benefit from treatment with Omacor to decrease their liver fat.”
The team’s forthcoming larger study, investigation of synbiotic treatment in NAFLD (INSYTE), aims to determine whether patients with NAFLD derive any benefit from a synbiotic supplement (a combination of a pre and probiotic).
* WELCOME: Wessex Evaluation of fatty Liver and Cardiovascular markers in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) with OMacor therapy
Posted on Saturday 19 March 2016