Modification of the Diabetes Prevention Program for the Treatment of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Pilot Study

AbstractObjectiveThe Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) is the gold standard lifestyle modification program that reduces incident type 2 diabetes mellitus. Patients with prediabetes and patients with non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) often share metabolic features; we hypothesized that the DPP could be adapted and used to improve outcomes in patients with NAFLD.MethodsNAFLD patients were recruited into a 1 year modified DPP. Demographics, medical comorbidities, and clinical laboratory values were collected at baseline, 6 and 12 months. The primary endpoint was change in weight at 12 months. Secondary endpoints were changes in hepatic steatosis, metabolic comorbidities, and liver enzymes (per‐protocol basis) and retention at 6 and 12 months.ResultsFourteen NAFLD patients enrolled; three dropped out before 6 months. From baseline to 12 months, hepatic steatosis (p = 0.03), alanine aminotransferase (p = 0.02), aspartate aminotransferase (p = 0.02), high‐density lipoprotein (p = 0.01) and NAFLD fibrosis score (p < 0.001) improved, but low‐density lipoprotein worsened (p = 0.04).ConclusionSeventy‐nine percent of patients completed the modified DPP. Patients lost weight and had improvements in five out of six indicators of liver injury and lipid metabolism.Clinical Trial Registry NumberNCT04988204.