Scientists probe whether cutting insulin levels can curb liver fat

NCT ID NCT06558422

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study looks at how lowering insulin levels changes the way the liver makes sugar and fat. Researchers will give 36 overweight or obese adults with insulin resistance and fatty liver disease two different insulin infusions—one that keeps insulin high and one that lowers it by half. By tracking liver activity with special tracers, they hope to understand whether reducing insulin can shift the liver away from making fat. This is a small, early-stage study that aims to uncover basic biology, not test a new treatment.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
Insulin human, Octreotide Acetate, Glucagon
What this could lead to
If successful, this study could clarify how insulin levels drive liver fat buildup and glucose production, pointing toward better treatments for fatty liver disease and prediabetes.
What could go wrong
This is a very early (Phase 1), small (36 people) study that measures short-term metabolic changes, not long-term health outcomes. It may not translate into real-world treatments.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Columbia University Irving Medical Center

    New York, New York, 10032, United States

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