Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42834257›Full record

ArticleHepatology international2026

Randomised trial of lifestyle interventions for improving metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.

Wouter Robaeys, Leen Jm Heyens, Liesbeth Bruckers, Joris Penders, Mathieu Struyve, Ger H Koek, Sven Ma Francque, Geert Kmm Robaeys

Registry-linked trialAbstract read
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Hepatology international, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT05792488 (The Investigation of Different Guidance Methods to Facilitate Lifestyle Changes in Patients With NAFLD), which is not on this map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT05792488 nacompletednot on this map

The Investigation of Different Guidance Methods to Facilitate Lifestyle Changes in Patients With NAFLD

TypeinterventionalSponsorZiekenhuis Oost-LimburgRan2022 to 2025Enrolled300ConditionsNon-Alcoholic Fatty Liver DiseaseArmsCoach, App, Standard of care
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Wouter RobaeysLimburg Clinical Research Center (LCRC), Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Martelarenlaan 42, B 3500, Hasselt, Belgium.
Leen Jm HeyensLimburg Clinical Research Center (LCRC), Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Martelarenlaan 42, B 3500, Hasselt, Belgium.
Liesbeth BruckersBioStat, Data Science Institute, Hasselt University, Martelarenlaan 42, B 3500, Hasselt, Belgium.
Joris PendersLimburg Clinical Research Center (LCRC), Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Martelarenlaan 42, B 3500, Hasselt, Belgium.
Mathieu StruyveDepartment of Gastroenterology, Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg, B 3600, Genk, Belgium.
Ger H KoekSchool of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism (NUTRIM), Maastricht University, 6211 LK, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Sven Ma FrancqueLimburg Clinical Research Center (LCRC), Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Martelarenlaan 42, B 3500, Hasselt, Belgium.
Geert Kmm RobaeysLimburg Clinical Research Center (LCRC), Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Martelarenlaan 42, B 3500, Hasselt, Belgium. Geert.robaeys@uhasselt.be.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3930-5664

Funding

FWO FWO TBM R-12352
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND

aimsLifestyle modification is the cornerstone of treatment for Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD). To date, no published randomised controlled trials (RCTs) have provided a direct, head-to-head comparison between mobile (m)-health and structured, human-led dietitian coaching in the management of MASLD.

methodsIn a single-centre, 12-month RCT, participants (n=297) were randomised into three arms: (1) minimal intervention therapy (MIT) (n=102), (2) lifestyle coaching (n=97), and 3) m-health (n=98). Steatosis was measured using the controlled-attenuation parameter (CAP™), steatohepatitis by aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and fibrosis by vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE™).

resultsAcross all three study arms, an equally (p=0.998) significant reduction in CAP™ was observed. The mean CAP™ change was -23.94 dB/m (95% CI [- 36.70; -11.17], p<0.001) for the MIT group, -23.66 dB/m (95% CI [- 36.08;-11.23], p<0.001) for the lifestyle coaching group, and -21.96 dB/m (95% CI: [- 35.77;-8.15], p=0.002) for the m-health group. Over the 12-month period, guidance via m-health resulted in a significant decrease in mean serum AST levels (- 2.81 U/L (95% CI [- 5.06;-0.57], p=0.014). None of the intervention methods had a significant effect on fibrosis.

conclusionsThis study shows that all three lifestyle-guidance modalities produced comparable, significant reductions in liver steatosis over 12 months, with no significant differences between groups and no observed changes in liver stiffness. These findings support m-health as a feasible, scalable alternative in MASLD management, though multi-centre validation is warranted to confirm these outcomes. TRAIL REGISTRATIONS: (clinicaltrials.gov NCT05792488).

Indexed as

Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)Controlled attenuation parameter (CAP)Digital therapeuticFibroScan-AST (FAST) scoreLifestyle coachingLiver steatosisMetabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)Mobile health (m-health)Randomised controlled trial (RCT)Steatohepatitis

Identifiers

PMID42834257

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.