Herbal capsule could shrink fatty liver in new trial

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * 1\) Age between 18 and 65 years (inclusive); * 2\) Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Proton Density Fat Fraction (MRI-PDFF) ≥ 10%; * 3\) Liver stiffness measured by transient elastography \< 7.3 kPa; * 4\) Presence of one or more metabolic risk factors: a. Fasting plasma glucose ≥ 6.1 mmol/L, or 2-hour postprandial glucose ≥ 7.8 mmol/L, or HbA1c ≥ 5.7%, or a history of type 2 diabetes, or HOMA-IR ≥ 2.5; b. Arterial blood pressure ≥ 130/85 mmHg, or receiving antihypertensive medication; c. Fasting serum triglycerides ≥ 1.7 mmol/L; * 5\) Diagnosis of NAFLD with Phlegm-Stasis Obstructing Collateral pattern according to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) criteria, formulated based on the "Consensus Opinion on Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Diagnosis and Treatment of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (2017)": Primary Symptoms: a. Intercostal stabbing or dull pain; b. Palpable abdominal mass (hypochondriac mass); c. Dark or dull complexion; d. Obesity. Secondary Symptoms: a. Epigastric and chest fullness and oppression; b. Expectoration of sputum; c. Poor appetite and aversion to greasy food; d. Heavy sensation in the limbs. Tongue and Pulse: Dark red tongue with ecchymosis, enlarged tongue body with teeth marks, greasy coating; wiry, slippery, or hesitant pulse. Diagnosis can be established with the presence of at least 2 primary symptoms and 1 or 2 secondary symptoms, in conjunction with the tongue and pulse presentation. * 6\) Understand the trial content thoroughly and voluntarily sign the informed consent form. Exclusion Criteria: * 1\) Excessive alcohol intake (converted pure alcohol \> 210 g per week for men, \> 140 g per week for women), or an Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) score ≥ 8; * 2\) Other liver diseases (e.g., alcoholic hepatitis, viral hepatitis, drug-induced liver disease, Wilson's disease, autoimmune liver disease, etc.), or a history of liver transplantation or liver resection; * 3\) Presence of severe concurrent diseases affecting the heart, brain, hematopoietic system, immune system, or kidneys (BUN \> 1.5 × ULN, Cr \> ULN); * 4\) Presence of other endocrine system disorders, such as hyperthyroidism, Cushing's syndrome, etc.; * 5\) History of malignancy that has not been in complete remission for more than 5 years; * 6\) Hepatic decompensation (total bilirubin, platelet count, prothrombin time, albumin \> ULN; ALT or AST \> 2 × ULN), presence of ascites, varices, or a history of hepatic encephalopathy; * 7\) Poorly controlled severe hypertension, defined as systolic blood pressure ≥ 180 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 110 mmHg; * 8\) Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (e.g., type 1 diabetes mellitus, or current use of insulin), or non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus with poor glycemic control (HbA1c ≥ 9.5%), or diabetic acute complications, or diabetes with severe chronic complications; * 9\) Use of medications that may cause hepatic steatosis or steatohepatitis (e.g., tamoxifen, amiodarone, glucocorticoids, tetracyclines, methotrexate, valproate, salicylates, estrogens) or potentially hepatotoxic drugs for 2 consecutive weeks or more within the past year; * 10\) Current use or use within the past 3 months of GLP-1 receptor agonists; * 11\) Adjustment of hypoglycemic, antihypertensive, or lipid-lowering medications within the past 3 months (e.g., adding or discontinuing medication, dose change, or irregular use); * 12\) Regular use of hepatoprotective drugs or vitamin E within the past month; * 13\) History of bariatric surgery within the past year, or body weight change \> 5% within the past 3 months; * 14\) History of surgery within the past month; * 15\) Coagulation abnormalities, or current use of medications or foods with anticoagulant effects (e.g., aspirin, warfarin, Panax notoginseng, safflower, Angelica sinensis, peach kernel, etc.); * 16\) Concomitant psychiatric or psychological disorders, or substance/drug abuse; * 17\) Known allergic constitution, or known allergy to any component of LJF; * 18\) Participation in another clinical trial within the past month; * 19\) Contraindications for MRI examination, such as claustrophobia or presence of metallic implants; * 20\) Individuals of childbearing potential (male or female) with fertility plans; pregnant or lactating women.