Grant: Project Grant

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) affects up to one third of the adult population, strongly associates with obesity, type 2 diabetes (T2D) and cardiovascular diseases, and leads to liver inflammation and fibrosis (i.e., metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis - MASH). There is currently no approved treatment for MASLD/MASH. This disease is caused by excess storage of fat in the liver. This excess fat to the liver also contributes to liver insulin resistance and the development of T2D. Abnormal storage within the fat tissues of the fats that come from our food contributes to excess storage of fat in the liver, offering a possible explanation as to why obesity so often leads to T2D and MASLD/MASH. Using our unique medical imaging methods, we recently found that niacin, an old, safe and low-cost drug to reduce cholesterol and fat in the blood, administered after a meal leads to a 40% reduction of fat entering the liver, and drives fats from the food to be stored in the fat tissues. This may open up an entirely new treatment strategy for individuals living with MASLD/MASH. This new study therefore aims to demonstrate the effect of a 12-week treatment with niacin administered after the largest meal of the day on the storage of fats in fat tissues and the liver. We will also measure liver insulin resistance and inflammation in response to this treatment. Our study will include an equal number of women and men in order to be able to explore differences in results between both sexes. We recently made exciting technological additions to our state-of-the-art medical imaging methods and facilities to measure all features of fat tissue fatty acid metabolism. Our results may lead to a new therapy to help people living with MASLD/MASH, a poorly managed condition that may lead to severe complications such as T2D, cardiac diseases and liver failure.