Figure 1:

(A) Study design flow diagram depicting enrollment and post-hoc exclusions for the two clinical trials, PIVENS and TONIC. (B) Distribution of haptoglobin (Hp) genotypes. Hp genotypes of study participants were determined by conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using two primer sets (primers A/B; C/D). For each subject, PCR products of the two primer sets were pooled, resolved on agarose gel, and visualized under ultraviolet light. Hp 1–1 was identified by a sole 1757-bp band; Hp 2–2 by two bands at 3481-bp and 349-bp; and Hp 2–1 by bands at 1757-bp and 349-bp (with or without a faint band at 3481; and Hp 2–1 by bands at 1757-bp and 349-bp (with or without a faint band at 3481-bp).Abbreviations: Hp, haptoglobin; EOT, end of treatment; PCR, polymerase chain reaction; PIVENS, Pioglitazone versus Vitamin E versus Placebo for the Treatment of Non-diabetic Patients with Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis; TONIC, Treatment of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease In Children; VitE, vitamin E.