POTENTIAL OF STEM CELL THERAPY AND REGENERATIVE MEDICINE FOR REVERSING LIVER DAMAGE IN NAFLD

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a growing concern worldwide, with limited treatment options for its advanced stages, including non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and cirrhosis. Objective: This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of stem cell therapy in reversing liver damage in patients with NAFLD. Methods: 25 patients aged 18-65, diagnosed with advanced stages of NAFLD, were enrolled in this single-arm clinical trial. Patients received a one-time infusion of autologous stem cells, and liver function, imaging, and biopsy results were monitored at baseline and 12 months post-treatment. The primary outcomes included changes in liver function tests (ALT, AST, bilirubin), liver imaging, liver biopsy, and quality of life. Results: Significant improvements were observed in liver function tests, with ALT decreasing by 40%, AST by 41%, and total bilirubin by 39% (p < 0.01 for ALT and AST, p < 0.05 for bilirubin). Liver imaging showed a 37% reduction in fat fraction and a 28% reduction in liver stiffness (p < 0.05). Liver biopsy results demonstrated a 40% improvement in fibrosis stage, with 30% of patients improving from stages 2-3 to stages 1-2. Hepatocyte regeneration showed a 400% improvement (p < 0.01). Quality of life improved by 50%, from a score of 5.2 to 7.8 (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Stem cell therapy demonstrated significant liver regeneration and functional improvement in patients with advanced NAFLD. These findings suggest that stem cell therapy may provide a promising therapeutic option for reversing liver damage in NAFLD. Larger, controlled studies are needed to confirm these results and assess stem cell therapy's long-term safety and efficacy for NAFLD.