NAFLD-TRFImpact of Time-restricted Feeding on Hepatic Steatosis in NAFLD

Patients are recruited in the Liver Outpatient Clinic of the University Medical Center of Mainz. About 100 patients will be enrolled in this pilot study. Inclusions criteria are exclusions of known causes of liver injury, Body Mass Index (BMI) > 25 kg/m\^2, severe steatosis according to CAP ≥ 300 dB/m and absence of advanced fibrosis according to liver stiffness < 13 kPa. Following the written consent, all patients will be trained to undertake a 2-week lead-in period of DGE. Beginning in week 3 (Visit 2), an interventional group and a control group are generated through randomisation. The interventional group is instructed to follow TRF, whereas the control group is not subject to any time restrictions. Both arms will be accompanied for a duration of 12 weeks.TRF diet is based on temporal food consumption between 8:00 a.m. and 16:00 p.m., thus a 16 hour lasting period. After 10 weeks from the completion of the experimental phase (wash-out period), there will be the "end of follow up" visit. The whole duration of the study is 24 weeks (2 weeks lead-in, 12 weeks intervention and 10 weeks post-intervention investigation). Transient elastography (Fibroscan) is conducted at the screening visit, randomization visit, and at weeks 8, end of treatment visit and end of study visit. Spleen stiffness measurement is performed at randomization visit, week 8 and end of treatment visit. There will be 5 visits at the study center (screening, randomization, week 8, end of treatment and end of study) and 2 phone visits (week 6 and week 12). At each visit clinical events, body weight and standard laboratory parameters, identification of the CAP and stiffness values will be collected. Participants will fill in questionnaires capturing quality of life. At randomization visit and end of treatment visit, an OGTT will be performed to assess insulin sensitivity. Adverse events will be recorded. Phone visits are used to survey the safety of patients. Non-adherence to TRF for 2 days per week (20% of the total study period) has been selected as cut off to define treatment failure at per-protocol analysis.