Researchers from Imperial College London will look at a treatment called kisspeptin. They hope to find out if it has health benefits for post menopause women with signs of MASLD.
After menopause, hormone changes can raise the risk of health issues. One of these is a liver condition called MASLD. This condition happens when too much fat builds up in the liver.
MASLD stands for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease. You might also hear it called NAFLD or fatty liver disease.
What is Kisspeptin?
Kisspeptin is a hormone made in our bodies. It controls other hormones involved in reproduction. New research suggests that extra kisspeptin could have several health benefits. These include possible positive effects on:
- liver health (by reducing fat in the liver)
- metabolism (how our bodies deal with fat and sugar)
- bone strength
- mood
Who can take part in the kisspeptin study?
This study will look at women who:
- are post-menopausal (have not had a period for more than a year) , and
- have abnormal liver blood tests linked to MASLD
It will investigate if kisspeptin can improve liver function and improve other aspects of health.
What will happen during the study?
This is a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. This means everyone taking part will be randomly put into either the kisspeptin group or the placebo group. They will not know which group they are in. Researchers will not know who is in each group until after the study finishes.
The study will last 12 weeks. Researchers will teach people who take part how to give themselves injections into the skin around their tummies. Everyone taking part will give themselves 1 injection every day
- The kisspeptin group will have injections of kisspeptin.
- The placebo group will have harmless injections of salty water.
Everyone involved will also have a few health checks. These will include:
- blood tests
- MRI scans of the liver
- Fibroscans (a scan like an ultrasound that measures the stiffness of the liver)
- bone density scans (to check bone strength)
They will also be asked to fill out questionnaires.
People who complete the study will receive up to £1055 because they will have to come to the hospital for scans and study visits. People who start the study but do not complete the study will receive less money, which will be based on how long they were part of the study.
This study is funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). It has been approved by the East of England – Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Research Ethics Committee. Reference number: 25/EE/0077).
Finding out more and taking part
You can find out more about this study by clicking this link: https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN45436103.
Please send an email to imperial.kisspeptin@nhs.net if you would like to take part in this study.
