ผู้ป่วยและวิธีการหัวข้อAdult outpatients of both genders (n=15; 13 men) with NAFLD attending the Outpatient Clinic of Internal Medicine of the Naval Hospital of Crete participated in this prospective pilot study. NAFLD diagnosis was based on ultrasonographic (US), complete clinical, anthropometric and laboratory evaluations or was confirmed by liver biopsy (two patients). The time interval between NAFLD diagnosis and participants’ enrolment in the study was at least one year. During this year the participants were encouraged for changes in their lifestyle habits (dietary or physical activity habits), but without any laboratory (liver enzymes) improvement. The subjects-patients were interviewed before participating in the study using a structured form, which included sociodemographic data, lifestyle habits, and medical history. They all met the following inclusion criteria: 1) age >18 years old; 2) long history of elevated serum ALT levels (>40 IU/L), and AST/ALT <1; 3) fatty liver diagnosed by US or confirmed by liver biopsy; 4) alcohol intake <20 g per day (confirmed by at least one family member); 5) absence of other causes of serum aminotransferases chronic elevation, such as viral (B and C), autoimmune or drug-induced (e.g. lipid-lowering drugs) hepatitis, hypothyroidism, celiac disease, hereditary hemochromatosis, Wilson’s disease, α1 antitrypsin deficiency, primary biliary cirrhosis and primary sclerosing cholangitis; 6) absence of phenylketonuria (an autosomal recessive metabolic genetic disorder characterized by a mutation in the gene for the hepatic enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase, rendering it non-functional); 7) no consumption of vitamin supplements or drugs (such as statins, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, pioglitazone, amiodarone, methotrexate, tamoxifen/synthetic estrogens, glucocorticoids, calcium channel blockers, pre and probiotics, etc.) during the last semester. After being given clear detailed explanations of the protocol and study aims, the patients gave written consent and were free to withdraw from the study at any time with no obligations. The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and was given approval by the Ethics committee of the medical research institute.
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