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Understanding Pediatric MASLD and Food Insecurity

This study is looking at how household food insecurity (when families have trouble getting enough healthy food) might affect children and teenagers with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). MASLD is a common liver condition in young people. Researchers want to understand if children from families experiencing food insecurity have more severe MASLD. This is an observational study, meaning researchers will collect information from 160 children and teenagers aged 6 to 17 who are already receiving care for liver conditions in California. To join, your child must have elevated liver enzymes (ALT and GGT) and a BMI for their age/sex of 85% or higher. The study will measure these liver enzymes again after 30 days to see if there's a connection.

Study design
This is an observational study involving 160 children and teenagers. It is not testing a new treatment, but rather observing connections between existing conditions.
What's involved
Not specified in the trial record.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Liver enzymes (ALT and GGT) will be measured at 30 days after the initial measurement.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT07090083

Pediatric Metabolic Dysfunction-associated Steatotic Liver Disease and Food Insecurity

Recruiting
Not specifiedAges 6–17Observational
University of California, San Francisco
~160 participants
Updated 2025-09-02 on ClinicalTrials.gov

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Alanine aminotransferase (ALT)
Measured over 30 days
+1 more outcome measured

Conditions

MASLD - Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease
Food Insecurity

Explore related trials

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

NCT07090083

Where you'd take part

This study runs at 1 site. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.

  • University of California, San Francisco

    San Francisco, Californiastudy coordinator listed

    Recruiting

Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.

Study leadership

  • Sarah L Maxwell, MD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · University of California, San Francisco

Who to contact

Milagro Escobar
[email protected]
415-519-7863
Email the study team

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Children and adolescents receiving care in the liver and WATCH clinics.
Family living in California.
Parent/guardian speaks Spanish or English.
Child is between the ages of 6 to \<17 years.
Elevated ALT on at least 2 occasions within the past year:
ALT \> 22 units/L for females.
ALT \> 26 units/L for males.
BMI for age/sex ≥ 85%.
Alternatively, child has one elevated ALT within the past year and confirmed steatosis on imaging.
Family does not intend to move out of California within the next year.
Family is not already receiving EatSF SF Fruit and Vegetable Vouchers.
Family is not participating in any other dietary education programs besides those offered by the WATCH or liver clinics.

Exclusion

Child has an underlying condition or medication causing their weight gain (e.g., hypothyroidism, Prader-Willi syndrome, antipsychotic medications).
Child is on, or expected to go on, or starts on a weight loss medication (e.g., Qsymia or GLP-1 receptor agonists).
Child has another known cause of liver disease (not including MASLD or MASH), such as:
Autoimmune hepatitis.
Wilson's disease.
Hepatitis A, B, or C.
Acute infection.
Genetic condition causing inflammation in the liver.

What this trial measures

  • Alanine aminotransferase (ALT)30 days

    Alanine aminotransferase (ALT)

  • Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT)30 days

    Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT)