Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: Investigation of the Effects of a Synbiotic on Liver Fat, Disease Biomarkers and Intestinal Microbiota in Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Brief Summary: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a liver condition in which fat builds up in the liver not caused by alcohol. The liver is an organ that is not designed to build up fat. NAFLD is common in people who have too much body fat in their abdomen or who have diabetes (high blood sugar), but does not always exist with these conditions. NAFLD can also occur in thin people too. NAFLD can be harmful to the liver and may cause the liver to fail over time. NAFLD may also cause adult (or type 2) diabetes and also heart disease. In people who already have diabetes, NAFLD can cause glucose (sugar) levels to be too high.

Our intestines (guts) contain healthy bacteria and some harmful bacteria (bugs). This balance of healthy and harmful bugs is essential for the normal workings of our intestine to digest food. Providing these bacteria do not leak out into the blood they do not cause harm. If the balance of healthy to harmful bugs is upset, the harmful can cause problems and leak out into the blood. Because the liver is connected to the intestine by blood vessels the harmful bacteria can get to the liver and cause problems. These bacteria can cause the liver and the body to build up too much fat and might cause NAFLD and obesity. In this study, we will test the effects of a supplement (synbiotic) taken during the day, that contains a mixture of 'good' healthy bacteria (probiotic) and a sugar (prebiotic) that is not broken down and absorbed into the blood. We will test whether the synbiotic supplement has beneficial effects on the NAFLD liver condition and on factors linked to too much body fat, diabetes and heart disease.


Options:
A: Inclusion criteria:

1. Steatohepatitis diagnosed on normal clinical grounds including in most cases liver biopsy and assessed by Kleiner scoring system to assess severity, with no known aetiological factors for underlying liver disease (e.g. exclusion of hepatitis A, B \& C, primary biliary cirrhosis, autoimmune hepatitis, haemochromatosis).
2. Steatosis diagnosed by ultrasound, CT or magnetic resonance imaging who also have either diabetes and/or features of the metabolic syndrome, without evidence of known aetiological factors for underlying liver disease (e.g. exclusion of hepatitis A, B \& C, primary biliary cirrhosis, autoimmune hepatitis, haemochromatosis).

Liver biopsy or liver scan will be within 3 years of recruitment to the study. Age: men \& women \>18 years. Alcohol consumption \<35 units / week for women \<50 units / week for men).

Exclusion criteria:

* Decompensated acute or chronic liver disease, or harmful drinking (\> 35 u/week in women \> 50 u /week in men).
B: Inclusion Criteria:

* Both men and women
* Age \> 18 years
* Liver fat diagnosed on normal clinical grounds including in most cases liver assessed by Kleiner scoring system to classify severity, with no known aetiological factors for underlying liver disease (e.g. exclusion of hepatitis A, B \& C, primary biliary cirrhosis, autoimmune hepatitis, haemochromatosis). Last liver biopsy will be within 3 years of recruitment to the study.
* Liver fat diagnosed by ultrasound, CT or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients who also have either diabetes and/or features of the metabolic syndrome, without evidence of known aetiological factors for underlying liver disease (e.g. exclusion of hepatitis A, B \& C, primary biliary cirrhosis, autoimmune hepatitis, haemochromatosis).
* Alcohol consumption ≤ 14 units / week for women ≤ 21 units / week for men.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Alcohol consumption \> 15 units /week for women and \> 22 units /week for men.
* Decompensated acute or chronic liver disease.
* A history of viral hepatitis, diarrhoea, diverticulosis, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel diseases, coeliac disease (seropositivity for anti-endomysial immunoglobulin A antibodies; immunoglobulin A (IgA) EMA).
* Previous bariatric or other abdominal surgery.
* Continuous use of antibiotics that may change gut microflora, probiotics, or antisecretory drugs capable of causing achlorhydria within the 2 months preceding enrolment, or evidence of immunoglobulin A or immunoglobulin deficiency (both of which produce confounding effects during assessments of intestinal permeability and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth).
C: Inclusion Criteria:

1. Male and female help seeking individuals aged between 16-35 years.
2. Meets at least one of the criteria for ARMS (see CAARMS Operationalized Intake Criteria section below).
3. Assessed as competent to provide informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. History ofpreviously experiencing a psychotic illness (treated or untreated).
2. IQ \< 70 and/or history of learning disability.
3. Any pre-existing inflammatory conditions e.g. rheumatoid arthritis.
4. Organic brain disease e.g. epilepsy.
5. treatment with an antipsychotic or mood-stabilising agent.
6. Prior history of intolerance or serious side effects (hepatotoxicity, photosensitivity, blood dyscrasias) to any of the tetracyclines or Omega-3 fatty acids.
7. Concomitant penicillin therapy or concomitant anticoagulant therapy.
8. Active substance abuse (except nicotine or caffeine) or dependence within the last three months, according to DSM-V criteria.
9. Treatment with warfarin or lamotrigine.
10. Current or previous treatment with tetracycline antibiotics or Omega-3 fatty acids in the preceding three months before study entry.
11. Current treatment with any anti-inflammatory medication.
12. Treatment with electroconvulsive therapy within the 12 weeks preceding the study.
13. Active expression of suicidal ideation (CAARMS item 7.3 severity score 6) or current aggression/dangerous behaviour (CAARMS item 5.4 severity score 6). 14. Relevant current or past hematologic, hepatic, renal, neurological or other medical disorder that in the opinion of the principal investigator may interfere with the study.

15. Pregnant or breastfeeding females.
D: Inclusion Criteria:

A patient may be included if he/she;

* Is aged between 18 and 55 years (both included).
* Has multiple sclerosis according to the McDonald criteria (McDonald 2001)
* Has a stable disease during the last month period prior to inclusion, and a disability equivalent to EDSS of 5.5 or less (Kurtzke 1983).
* Has shown disease activity defined as at least one relapse or at least one new MRI lesion (T1 enhancing or T2 lesion - ref. McDonald criteria) during the year prior to inclusion.
* Is prepared to and considered able to follow the protocol and to attend the planned visits during the whole study period.
* Is using adequate contraceptive methods and has negative pregnancy test results (female of childbearing potential must).
* Has given written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

A patient has to be excluded if he/she;

* Has received continuous for more than one-week treatment with unsaturated fatty acids (omega-3) within 3 months prior to inclusion in the study.
* Has an active RRMS disease that would strongly be recommended for standard immunomodulatory treatment by the treating neurologist.
* Has received treatment with interferon-beta or glatiramer acetate within 6 months prior to inclusion in the study.
* Has received treatment with lymphoid irradiation, mitoxantrone, cyclophosphamide or long-term glucocorticoids.
* Has received treatment with azathioprine, cyclosporine or other immunosuppressive agents within the year prior to inclusion in the study.
* Has received treatment with glucocorticoids or ACTH within two month prior to inclusion in the study.
* Has experienced a relapse within one month prior to the inclusion in the study.
* Has converted to secondary progressive MS.
* Has suffered from major depression or any other psychiatric disorder that would preclude safe participation in the protocol.
* Has diabetes mellitus.
* Has alcohol or drug abuse.
* Has cardiac insufficiency, cardiomyopathy, significant cardiac dysrhythmia, unstable or advanced ischemic heart disease (NYHA III or IV), or malignant hypertension.
* Has renal insufficiency.
* Has ASAT or ALAT \> 2,5 x normal upper limit.
* Has leukopenia \< 2500 leukocytes per µl or thrombocytopenia \<100 000 thrombocytes per µl.
* Has any systemic disease, which can influence his/her safety and compliance, or the evaluation of the disability.
* Has thromboembolic disease that needs anticoagulative treatment.
* Have formerly shown severe reactions against study drug, interferon-beta or gadolinium (MRI contrast).
* Is breastfeeding or is pregnant.

Answer: B