Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: Omega 3 Fish Oil Supplements vs. Placebo for Patients With Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH)
Brief Summary: Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) occurs in 2-3% of the US population and carries a 15-20% chance of progression to cirrhosis. It is closely associated with obesity, hyperlipidemia and insulin resistance. Therapy usually includes recommendations to increase exercise and to begin weight reducing diets but these goals are variably achieved and their relative effects in conjunction with pharmacological intervention have not been well defined. Moreover, these lifestyle changes can confound results of treatment trials if not quantified through conditioning testing and measures of body fat. Polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially formulation rich in omega-3, are widely accepted and endorsed in the medical community for their beneficial effects on hyperlipidemia and coronary disease risk reduction. Recent data suggests that omega-3 fatty acids ameliorate hepatic steatosis in humans and in animal models of NASH by reducing hepatic fat content. We hypothesize that a one year course of omega-3 fatty acid (3gm/day) will produce improvement in NASH histological injury independent of changes in weight (BMI) or degree of conditioning measured by the lactate threshold. The effects of the supplement will be compared to a placebo group and controlled for these lifestyle changes.


Options:
A: Inclusion Criteria:

* persistently elevated serum aminotransferase levels
* diffusely echogenic liver on imaging studies suggestive of fatty liver
* biopsy consistent with the diagnosis of NAFLD

Exclusion Criteria:

* hepatic virus infections (HCV RNA-PCR negative)
* Hepatitis A, B, C, D, E and G
* cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus
* alcohol consumption
* history of parenteral nutrition
* use of drugs known to induce steatosis or to affect body weight and carbohydrate metabolism
* autoimmune liver disease, metabolic liver disease, Wilson's disease, and a-1-antitrypsin-associated liver disease were ruled out using standard clinical, laboratory and histological criteria
B: Inclusion Criteria:

* Diagnosis of definite NASH
* Patients with diabetes taking stable doses of anti-diabetic agents are eligible
* No significant concomitant medical illness

Exclusion Criteria:

* Diagnosis of cirrhosis.
* Serum ALT \> 300 U/L
* Use of drugs associated with steatohepatitis
* Use of the following anit-NASH agents:

  1. Vitamin E \> 60 IU per day
  2. Omega-3-acid ethyl esters or omega-3-polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)-containing supplements \> 200 mg per day
  3. Thiazolidinediones (e.g. pioglitazone)
* Use of non-stable doses of the following anti-NASH agents: HMGCoA reductase inhibitors (statins), fibrates, probucol, ezetimibe, ursodiol (UDCA), taurine, betaine, N-acetylcysteine, s-adenosylmethionine (SAM-E), milk thistle, anti-TNF therapies, or probiotics.
* Other liver disease
C: Inclusion Criteria:

1. NASH with NAS (NASH Activity Score) of \>4 evident on a biopsy performed within 6 months of enrollment.
2. Age 21 years or older.
3. BMI 25 or greater.
4. Ability to provide informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Cirrhosis evident clinically or on biopsy.
2. Secondary forms of NASH such as that seen with bariatric surgery or medication induced from such medications as methotrexate, amiodarone, tamoxifen, corticosteroids.
3. Current or past history of diabetes or hyperlipidemia requiring specific drug therapy (see below).
4. Current use of a weight loss medicine, such as a 'fat-burner' or similar agent
5. Alcohol consumption \> 30 g/day, currently or for more than 3 consecutive months within 5 years.
6. Other liver disease (hepatitis C,B, Wilson's, autoimmune, ct-1-antitrypsin and hemochromatosis or HIV
7. Pregnancy or unwillingness to use an effective form of birth control for women of child bearing years.
8. Renal insufficiency (creatinine \> 2), symptomatic coronary, peripheral or neurovascular disease, symptomatic heart failure or advanced respiratory disease requiring oxygen therapy.
9. Inability to provide informed consent.
10. Any condition in the opinion of the primary investigator that would contraindicate the patient's participation.
D: Inclusion Criteria:

* Sedentary, non smoking, male subjects,
* Alcohol consumption men \<21 units/week,
* BMI 27-35. (Lean individuals do not suffer from NAFLD, so are not suitable for this study. Conversely, we are restricted to a maximum BMI of 35 due to the size limitations of the MR scanner.)
* A clinical diagnosis of NAFLD based upon the following criteria: i) exclusion of other causes of liver disease i.e. negative Hepatitis B and C serology, a negative auto-immune profile and normal caeruloplasmin concentrations, ii) Ultrasound appearances suggestive of a fatty, echo-bright liver with no evidence of cirrhosis (in some cases, the diagnosis will have been confirmed histologically after liver biopsy.
* Being willing to engage and motivated to follow an exercise program.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Prescription of corticosteroids, amiodarone, tamoxifen, methotrexate (drugs known to cause secondary steatohepatitis) or fibrates. Statin is Ok as long as the patients are on stable therapy for a while, if changed then the patient will be excluded.
* Alcohol consumption for men 21 units/week.
* A contraindication to exercise (such as unstable ischaemic heart disease),
* Type 2 diabetes (type 2 diabetes patients are excluded so that we are examining the involvement of insulin resistance at a reversible stage before β-cell failure has occurred).
* Patients who are on medications that will interact with GTN (glyceryl trinitrate) will be excluded from the GTN dilatation (endothelial independent NO mediated function) aspect of the study.
* Individuals who suffer from claustrophobia and have metal implants will be excluded from the MRI aspect of the study.
* Patients who smoke will also be excluded from the study.
* Total cholesterol \>7

Answer: C