Interdisciplinary Project on Liver Health

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Metabolic and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (MASLD) is one of the most common liver diseases in Western countries and is increasingly affecting young adults as well. In light of this trend, early diagnosis and non-invasive methods for monitoring disease progression are gaining importance in clinical practice, preventive care, and health policy.

In response to this challenge, the University of Applied Sciences Campus Wien developed the idea for an interprofessional research project involving the Radiology Technology, Dietetics, and Biomedical Analysis programs, which combines modern sonographic techniques with biomedical analyses and nutritional therapy approaches.

Two people performing an ultrasound scan on a dummy are pointing at screens and talking to each other

Research Areas

Digital Innovation, Engineering, and AI

Life Sciences, Health, and Quality of Life

Department

Health Sciences

Planned objectives and content:

The project investigates the influence of different diets on steatotic liver changes in young adults. The ultrasound measurement UGAP (GE Healthcare) is used, which allows a quantitative assessment of the liver fat content. In addition, liver-specific, biomedical-analytical parameters, bioelectrical impedance analyses (BIA) and anthropometric data are collected in order to record changes in liver function and body composition. The aim is to quantify and influence steatotic liver changes in the context of dietary interventions.

Participants are students aged 20-30 years. After a baseline measurement, they are randomised into a control group with a generally healthy diet and an intervention group with a Mediterranean diet. Both groups receive standardised information and training videos from the Dietetics study programs. The measurements will take place at three points in time (baseline, after 6 and after 12 weeks). The sample size should be 80 people.

The central research question is whether a Mediterranean diet leads to a measurable reduction in steatotic liver changes within 12 weeks and to what extent UGAP results correlate with laboratory chemical values and BIA measurements.

Research Goals

Scientific publication on the effects of different diets on steatotic liver changes in young adults
Creation of a standardised examination protocol for the use of UGAP measurement in fatty liver diagnostics
Didactic image and data set for research and teaching
Conception of further research projects in the field of metabolic prevention and imaging diagnostics