Could donating blood help control diabetes and fatty liver?
NCT ID NCT00230087
First seen Jul 21, 2026 · Last updated Jul 22, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study investigates whether reducing iron levels in the body through blood donation can improve insulin sensitivity and liver function in people with type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Participants will undergo phlebotomy until their iron stores are depleted. The goal is to see if this leads to better diabetes control and less fat in the liver.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- blood donation (phlebotomy) to reduce iron levels
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a simple, low-cost way to improve diabetes control and reduce liver fat in people with type 2 diabetes and fatty liver disease.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very small early study with only 15 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. Lowering iron may not improve insulin sensitivity or liver health as hoped.
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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
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Locations
-
University of Washington Medical Center
Seattle, Washington, 98195, United States
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