Table 1.
Treatment outcomes of variable regimens
| Study | Treatment group | Control group | No. | Study design | Duration (mo) | Histology | Liver enzymes | US |
| Life style modification | ||||||||
| Huang et al[66] | Diet | - | 12 | Open label | 12 | Improved | - | - |
| Ueno et al[65] | Diet/Exercise | Control | 15 | Open label | 3 | Improved | Improved | - |
| Pioglitazone (insulin sensitizer) | ||||||||
| Promrat et al[71] | Pioglitazone | - | 18 | Open label | 12 | Improved | Improved | - |
| Belfort et al[72] | Pioglitazone and Diet | Placebo | 55 | RCT | 6 | Improved | Improved | - |
| Aithal et al[73] | Pioglitazone and diet/Exercise | Placebo | 74 | RCT | 12 | Improved | Improved | - |
| Sanyal et al[74] | Pioglitazone | Placebo | 163 | RCT | 24 | Improved | Improved | - |
| Metformin (insulin sensitizer) | ||||||||
| Garinis et al[100] | Metformin and Diet | Diet | 50 | RCT | 6 | - | - | Improved |
| Haukeland et al[103] | Metformin | Placebo | 48 | RCT | 6 | - | - | - |
| Uygun et al[101] | Metformin and Diet | Control | 50 | Open label | 6 | - | - | Improved |
| Bugianes et al[99] | Metformin | Diet | 53 | RCT | 12 | Improved | Improved | - |
| Bugianes et al[99] | Metformin | Vitamin E | 57 | RCT | 12 | - | Improved | - |
| Vitamin E (antioxidant) | ||||||||
| Bugianesi et al[99] | Vitemin E | Diet | 55 | RCT | 12 | - | - | - |
| Sanyal et al[74] | Vitamin E | Placebo | 167 | RCT | 24 | Improved | Improved | |
| Vajro et al[109] | Vitamin E | Diet | 25 | RCT | 6 | - | - | - |
| Other drugs | ||||||||
| Sanjay et al[112] | Pentoxifylline | - | 18 | Open label | 6 | - | Improved | - |
| Yoneda et al[127] | Ezetimibe | - | 10 | Open label | 6 | Improved | Improved | |
| Vasilios et al[118] | Statin | Control | 437 | Open label | 36 | - | Improved | - |
| Lindor et al[130] | UDCA | Placebo | 166 | RCT | 48 | - | - | - |
| Capani et al[138] | PUFA | Control | 42 | RCT | 12 | - | Improved | Improved |
No.: Number; US: Ultrasonography; RCT: Randomized controlled trial.