Is Fasting Necessary for Individuals With Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease to Undergo Vibration-Controlled Transient Elastography?

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of meal intake on liver stiffness measurement (LSM) and controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) in patients with biopsy-proven nonalcoholic fatty liver disease undergoing vibration-controlled transient elastography. METHODS: LSM and CAP were assessed at baseline and serially for 6 hours after meal intake in 24 patients. RESULTS: A significant increase in LSM was seen up to the 2-hour time point (26 ± 25%, P = 0.02). The CAP scores changed minimally with a maximal change of 3% (P > 0.1). CONCLUSIONS: Three hours of fasting is necessary before evaluation with vibration-controlled transient elastography.