Protocol summary

Study aim
Determination and comparison of the effects of Calbin A supplementation on cardiometabolic indices, liver function tests, ultrasonographic findings, and quality of life in patients with metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) before and after the intervention.
Design
Clinical trial study with a control group, with two arm parallel-group, double-blind, randomized, phase 3 on 90 patients. For randomization, the block method (blocks of 4) and the site https://sealedenvelope.com/simple-randomiser/v1) will be used.
Settings and conduct
This clinical trial will be conducted among patients with MASLD attending a gastroenterology and hepatology subspecialty clinic. Calbin A supplement and placebo will be provided to participants in completely identical packaging for 12 weeks. Both the participants and the investigator will be blinded to the type of intervention.
Participants/Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Adult patients aged 18–65 years diagnosed with MASLD (hepatic steatosis plus at least one of the five metabolic dysfunction criteria) and a FIB-4 index > 1.3.
Intervention groups
The intervention group will receive two Calbin A capsules daily (each capsule containing 25 mg of Calbin A plus 5 mg of piperine), and the control group will receive two placebo capsules daily (each capsule containing 25 mg of maltodextrin plus 5 mg of piperine) for 12 weeks.
Main outcome variables
Before and after the intervention, serum liver enzymes (ALT, AST, ALP, and GGT), inflammatory markers (CRP and IL-6), oxidative stress indices (MDA, TAC, and SOD), and liver functional indices (FLI, FIB-4, and APRI) will be assessed as primary outcomes. Secondary outcomes will include glycemic indices, lipid profile, hepatic ultrasonographic findings, quality of life score, sleep quality score, depression, anxiety and stress scores, and mean anthropometric indices.

General information

Reason for update
Acronym
IRCT registration information
IRCT registration number: IRCT20201129049534N12
Registration date: 2026-04-13, 1405/01/24
Registration timing: prospective

Last update: 2026-04-13, 1405/01/24
Update count: 0
Registration date
2026-04-13, 1405/01/24
Registrant information
Name
Mohammad bagherniya
Name of organization / entity
Country
Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Phone
+98 31 3792 3183
Email address
bagherniya@nutr.mui.ac.ir
Recruitment status
recruiting
Funding source
Expected recruitment start date
2026-04-21, 1405/02/01
Expected recruitment end date
2026-08-23, 1405/06/01
Actual recruitment start date
empty
Actual recruitment end date
empty
Trial completion date
empty
Scientific title
The effect of Calebin-A supplementation on cardiometabolic risk factors, liver function tests, sonographic findings, and quality of life among patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD): a double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial
Public title
The effect of Calebin-A supplementation in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease
Purpose
Treatment
Inclusion/Exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria:
Age between 18 and 80 years Patients with MSLD (hepatic steatosis and one of the 5 factors of metabolic disorder) based on the confirmation of a radiologist and gastroenterologist. Having a FIB-4 index higher than 1.3 using lab data related to maximum a month ago Consent of the patient to participate in the study
Exclusion criteria:
Alcohol consumption of more than 30 gr/day in men and more than 20 gr/day in women Patients taking ursodeoxycholic acid, phenytoin, tamoxifen, lithium, corticosteroids, and methotrexate Taking vitamin E, omega-3, and probiotic supplements within the past 3 months Pregnancy and breastfeeding Uncontrolled or insulin-dependent diabetes Patients with liver cirrhosis, hepatitis, bile duct obstruction, immune system, Cushing's syndrome, cancer, and iron and copper storage disorders Weight loss diet in the last 3 months or weight loss surgery in the last year Starting a new medication or changing the dosage of previous medications associated with hepatic steatosis The patient's unwillingness to continue participating in the study Occurrence of any adverse events
Age
From 18 years old to 65 years old
Gender
Both
Phase
3
Groups that have been masked
  • Participant
  • Care provider
  • Investigator
  • Outcome assessor
  • Data analyser
Sample size
Target sample size: 90
Randomization (investigator's opinion)
Randomized
Randomization description
In order to randomize, stratified block randomization using blocks of 4 will be used. Also, matching will be done based on BMI (<25 and >25). For randomization using the site (https://sealedenvelope.com/simple-randomiser/v1) after determining the number of blocks and BMI (as variable based on which matching will be performed), all The blocks will be specified along with the type of intervention and the order of allocation of the intervention. The random allocation list of patients will be in the sole possession of an individual outside the plan.
Blinding (investigator's opinion)
Double blinded
Blinding description
In order to conduct this research in a double-blind manner, before the study begins, all relevant capsules are coded as A and B by someone other than the researcher, so that the researcher is unaware of the type of capsules received by both groups. In this way, participants and outcome assessors will not be aware of the patient grouping and will be blinded to it.
Placebo
Used
Assignment
Parallel
Other design features

Secondary Ids

empty

Ethics committees

1

Ethics committee
Name of ethics committee
Research Ethics Committees of School of Medicine - Isfahan University of Medical Sciences
Street address
School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Hezar-jerib Avenue
City
Isfahan
Province
Isfehan
Postal code
8174673461
Approval date
2026-02-18, 1404/11/29
Ethics committee reference number
IR.MUI.MED.REC.1404.465

Health conditions studied

1

Description of health condition studied
Metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease
ICD-10 code
K76.0
ICD-10 code description
Fatty (change of) liver, not elsewhere classified

Primary outcomes

1

Description
Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT)
Timepoint
Before and after intervention
Method of measurement
Commercial diagnostic kit

2

Description
Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST)
Timepoint
Before and after intervention
Method of measurement
Commercial diagnostic kit

3

Description
Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP)
Timepoint
Before and after intervention
Method of measurement
Commercial diagnostic kit

4

Description
Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase (GGT)
Timepoint
Before and after intervention
Method of measurement
Commercial diagnostic kit

5

Description
C reactive Protein (CRP)
Timepoint
Before and after intervention
Method of measurement
ELISA test

6

Description
Interleukin-6 (IL-6)
Timepoint
Before and after intervention
Method of measurement
ELISA test

7

Description
Malondialdehyde (MDA)
Timepoint
Before and after intervention
Method of measurement
ELISA test

8

Description
Total antioxidant capacity (TAC)
Timepoint
Before and after intervention
Method of measurement
ELISA test

9

Description
Superoxide dismutase (SOD)
Timepoint
Before and after intervention
Method of measurement
ELISA test

10

Description
Fatty liver index
Timepoint
Before and after intervention
Method of measurement
Based on the standard formula

11

Description
Aspartate aminotransaminase-to-platelet ratio index
Timepoint
Before and after intervention
Method of measurement
Based on the standard formula

12

Description
Fibrosis-4 index
Timepoint
Before and after intervention
Method of measurement
Based on the standard formula

Secondary outcomes

1

Description
fasting blood sugar (FBS)
Timepoint
Before and after intervention
Method of measurement
enzymatic colorimetric assay

2

Description
Fasting Insulin
Timepoint
Before and after intervention
Method of measurement
enzyme immunoassay

3

Description
Homeostasis model assessment-estimated insulin resistance (HOMA-IR)
Timepoint
Before and after intervention
Method of measurement
fasting insulin (mIU/mL) ×fasting blood glucose (mg/dL)/405

4

Description
total cholestrol
Timepoint
Before and after intervention
Method of measurement
Commercial diagnostic kit

5

Description
High-Density Lipoprotein
Timepoint
Before and after intervention
Method of measurement
Commercial diagnostic kit

6

Description
Low-Density Lipoprotein
Timepoint
Before and after intervention
Method of measurement
Commercial diagnostic kit

7

Description
Triglyceride
Timepoint
Before and after intervention
Method of measurement
Commercial diagnostic kit

8

Description
Fatty liver grade based on ultrasound
Timepoint
Before and after intervention
Method of measurement
ultrasound

9

Description
Quality of life
Timepoint
Before and after intervention
Method of measurement
Short Form Health Survey (SF-36)

10

Description
Sleep Quality
Timepoint
Before and after intervention
Method of measurement
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index

11

Description
Depression, anxiety and stress
Timepoint
Before and after intervention
Method of measurement
Depression anxiety stress scales-21 (DASS-21)

12

Description
Body mass index
Timepoint
Before and after intervention
Method of measurement
weight/ (height)2

13

Description
Waist circumference
Timepoint
Before and after intervention
Method of measurement
Using a non-elastic tape measure, without applying any pressure, approximately 0.1 cm at the narrowest part of the waist (at the end of a natural exhalation) in a standing position.

Intervention groups

1

Description
Intervention group: they will receive two Calebin A capsules daily (each capsule containing 25 mg of Calebin A plus 5 mg of piperine, produced by Sami Lab, India) for 12 weeks.
Category
Treatment - Drugs

2

Description
Control group: they will receive two placebo capsules daily (each capsule containing 25 mg of maltodextrin plus 5 mg of piperine, produced by Sami Lab, India) for 12 weeks.
Category
Placebo

Recruitment centers

1

Recruitment center
Name of recruitment center
Alzahra Hospital
Full name of responsible person
Hajar Heidari
Street address
Soffe Boulevard
City
Isfahan
Province
Isfehan
Postal code
8174675731
Phone
+98 31 3792 3164
Email
h.heidari72@ymail.com

2

Recruitment center
Name of recruitment center
Private Clinic of Dr. Mehdi Kazemi, Gastroenterology and Hepatology Subspecialist
Full name of responsible person
Hajar Heidari
Street address
Chaharbagh Bala Street
City
Isfahan
Province
Isfehan
Postal code
81746-73461
Phone
+98 31 3792 3164
Email
h.heidari72@ymail.com

Sponsors / Funding sources

1

Sponsor
Name of organization / entity
Esfahan University of Medical Sciences
Full name of responsible person
Behruz Ataei
Street address
Hezar-jerib Ave
City
Isfahan
Province
Isfehan
Postal code
81746-73461
Phone
+98 21 8145 5618
Email
ethics@behdasht.gov.ir
Grant name
Grant code / Reference number
Is the source of funding the same sponsor organization/entity?
Yes
Title of funding source
Esfahan University of Medical Sciences
Proportion provided by this source
100
Public or private sector
Public
Domestic or foreign origin
Domestic
Category of foreign source of funding
empty
Country of origin
Type of organization providing the funding
Academic

Person responsible for general inquiries

Contact
Name of organization / entity
Esfahan University of Medical Sciences
Full name of responsible person
Mohammad Bagherniya
Position
Associate Professor
Latest degree
Ph.D.
Other areas of specialty/work
Nutrition
Street address
Hezar-jerib Ave
City
Isfahan
Province
Isfehan
Postal code
81746-73461
Phone
+98 31 3792 3154
Email
bagherniya@nutr.mui.ac.ir

Person responsible for scientific inquiries

Contact
Name of organization / entity
Esfahan University of Medical Sciences
Full name of responsible person
Mohammad Bagherniya
Position
Associate Professor
Latest degree
Ph.D.
Other areas of specialty/work
Nutrition
Street address
Hezar-jerib Ave
City
Isfahan
Province
Isfehan
Postal code
8174673461
Phone
+98 31 3792 3154
Email
bagherniya@nutr.mui.ac.ir

Person responsible for updating data

Contact
Name of organization / entity
Esfahan University of Medical Sciences
Full name of responsible person
Mohammad Bagherniya
Position
Associate Professor
Latest degree
Ph.D.
Other areas of specialty/work
Nutrition
Street address
Hezar-jerib Ave
City
Isfahan
Province
Isfehan
Postal code
8174673461
Phone
+98 31 3792 3154
Email
bagherniya@nutr.mui.ac.ir

Sharing plan

Deidentified Individual Participant Data Set (IPD)
Yes - There is a plan to make this available
Study Protocol
Yes - There is a plan to make this available
Statistical Analysis Plan
Yes - There is a plan to make this available
Informed Consent Form
Yes - There is a plan to make this available
Clinical Study Report
Yes - There is a plan to make this available
Analytic Code
Yes - There is a plan to make this available
Data Dictionary
Yes - There is a plan to make this available
Title and more details about the data/document
Information about the study will be published after the individuals are not identified and the project is completed.
When the data will become available and for how long
Access period starts 6 months after the results are published
To whom data/document is available
Only for researchers working in academic and scientific institutions
Under which criteria data/document could be used
For further analysis
From where data/document is obtainable
Dr. Mohammad Bagherniya email: bagherniya@nutr.mui.ac.ir
What processes are involved for a request to access data/document
After reviewing the request and making it fully clear about the purposes of using the data, the data will be provided.
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