Effect of Amino Acids on Hepatic Fat Content in Adolescents (AMINOS Study)
Participants 13-18 years of age with extra fat stored in the liver will be randomly assigned to a protein supplement or placebo fake supplement for 2 months to see if the participants who get the protein supplement have less fat in the liver compared to participants who were in the placebo group. After the 2 month intervention, all participants can continue the study and will all receive the protein supplement for an additional 10-months.
• Ages 13-18, Tanner stage 4-5
• Suspected or diagnosed with NAFLD per fibroscan or liver biopsy within 6 months prior to enrollment as long as participants have not lost more than 5% of total body weight. Their MRI liver fat \>5.5%
• Diagnosis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) per hepatologist
• Sedentary- less than 3 hours of moderate (jogging, swimming, etc.) exercise a week
• BMI equal or greater than the 85th percentile for age and gender, this is overweight and obese categories