Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Effects of alternate -day fasting on body weight and dyslipidaemia in patients with non -
alcoholic fa tty liver disease: a randomised controlled trial  
 
Version: 0 Date: 30 Oct 2019  
 
Reviewer: Marcello Persico  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
This an intriguing study evaluating two different nutritional dietetic approach to suggest to 
NAFLD affected patients.  
The study was designed in a correct way and results seem supporting the initial aim of the study 
trying to confirm the superiority od the Alternate Diet Fastinf (ADF) when compared to Time 
Restriction Diet (TRD). A co ntrol no dieting group of patients was appropriately followed and 
compared with both dieting groups.  
 
A part from the limitations declared by the authors themselves I have two more questions: - 
 
- can the authors present data as per individual changes rathe r than mean and SD ?  
 
- how they explain a loss of weight either at 4 and 12 weeks also in non -dieting people (control 
group) ?  
 
minor comments:  
 
- it might be stated in the detail, a part from the percentage of diet constituents, the amount of 
calories an d the type of diet of the fasting day.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an  
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Needs some language corrections before being published  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an  
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of this  
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose  
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the futu re? 
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to the content of the  
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds  or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below.  If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
'I declare that I have no competing interests  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal. I understand that my name will be included  
on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted for publication, my named report  
including any attachments I upload will be posted on the website along with the authors'  
responses. I agree for my report to be made available under an Open Acc ess Creative Commons  
CC-BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments  
which I do not wish to be included in my named report can be included as confidential comments  
to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal  
Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Effects of alternate -day fasting on body weight and dyslipidaemia in patients with non -
alcoholic fa tty liver disease: a randomised controlled trial  
 
Version: 0 Date: 30 Oct 2019  
 
Reviewer: Marcello Persico  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
This an intriguing study evaluating two different nutritional dietetic approach to suggest to 
NAFLD affected patients.  
The study was designed in a correct way and results seem supporting the initial aim of the study 
trying to confirm the superiority od the Alternate Diet Fastinf (ADF) when compared to Time 
Restriction Diet (TRD). A co ntrol no dieting group of patients was appropriately followed and 
compared with both dieting groups.  
 
A part from the limitations declared by the authors themselves I have two more questions: - 
 
- can the authors present data as per individual changes rathe r than mean and SD ?  
 
- how they explain a loss of weight either at 4 and 12 weeks also in non -dieting people (control 
group) ?  
 
minor comments:  
 
- it might be stated in the detail, a part from the percentage of diet constituents, the amount of 
calories an d the type of diet of the fasting day.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an  
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Needs some language corrections before being published  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an  
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of this  
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose  
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the futu re? 
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to the content of the  
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds  or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below.  If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
'I declare that I have no competing interests  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal. I understand that my name will be included  
on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted for publication, my named report  
including any attachments I upload will be posted on the website along with the authors'  
responses. I agree for my report to be made available under an Open Acc ess Creative Commons  
CC-BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments  
which I do not wish to be included in my named report can be included as confidential comments  
to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal  
Please review this paper.
user
Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Effects of alternate -day fasting on body weight and dyslipidaemia in patients with non -
alcoholic fa tty liver disease: a randomised controlled trial  
 
Version: 0 Date: 30 Oct 2019  
 
Reviewer: Marcello Persico  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
This an intriguing study evaluating two different nutritional dietetic approach to suggest to 
NAFLD affected patients.  
The study was designed in a correct way and results seem supporting the initial aim of the study 
trying to confirm the superiority od the Alternate Diet Fastinf (ADF) when compared to Time 
Restriction Diet (TRD). A co ntrol no dieting group of patients was appropriately followed and 
compared with both dieting groups.  
 
A part from the limitations declared by the authors themselves I have two more questions: - 
 
- can the authors present data as per individual changes rathe r than mean and SD ?  
 
- how they explain a loss of weight either at 4 and 12 weeks also in non -dieting people (control 
group) ?  
 
minor comments:  
 
- it might be stated in the detail, a part from the percentage of diet constituents, the amount of 
calories an d the type of diet of the fasting day.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an  
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Needs some language corrections before being published  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an  
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of this  
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose  
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the futu re? 
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to the content of the  
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds  or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below.  If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
'I declare that I have no competing interests  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal. I understand that my name will be included  
on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted for publication, my named report  
including any attachments I upload will be posted on the website along with the authors'  
responses. I agree for my report to be made available under an Open Acc ess Creative Commons  
CC-BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments  
which I do not wish to be included in my named report can be included as confidential comments  
to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal  
assistant