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.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
-
About 15 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Start date
-
Sep 2005
- Finished
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Jun 2010
- Lead sponsor
-
A government research agency
The lead sponsor is the US National Institutes of Health.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
18 to 65 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria * Histological evidence of NAFLD and enrollment in NASH CRN Database Study * Type 2 DM treated with diet or a stable dose of non-insulin sensitizing oral hypoglycemic agents for \> 3 mo. * Hemoglobin HbA1c level ≤ 8 % * Serum ALT levels ≥1.3 x ULN * Between 18-65 years of age Exclusion Criteria * Hereditary hemochromatosis or hepatic iron overload defined as any of the following: * 2+ iron on hepatic iron staining * Hepatic Iron Index ≥ 1.9 * C282Y homozygous or C282Y/H63D compound heterozygous HFE genotype * Use of insulin or thiazolidinediones for the treatment of diabetes * Use of anti-NASH drugs (thiazolidinediones, vitamin E, UDCA, SAM-e, betaine, milk thistle, gemfibrozil, anti-TNF therapies, probiotics) * Serum ferritin \<50μg/L * Serum transferrin-iron saturation \<10 % * Hemoglobin \<10 mg/L * Hematocrit \<38 % * Voluntary blood donation or therapeutic phlebotomy within the previous twelve months (except routine lab tests) * Pregnant or lactating women * Prior history of coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, exertional dyspnea or chronic chest pain at rest. * Evidence of myocardial infarction as determined by an ECG
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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
-
University of Washington Medical Center
Seattle, Washington, 98195, United States
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