Researchers at University College London (UCL) have developed a new kind of tiny bead that might soon make a big difference in treating liver diseases and other health problems linked to the gut.
These small carbon beads have been shown to reduce harmful bacteria and inflammation in animal studies, which could have implications for diseases like liver cirrhosis—a serious condition where the liver becomes scarred.
Cirrhosis of the liver is a major health issue worldwide, affecting about 100 million people. An additional 10 million people suffer from cirrhosis along with other complications. The disease is often worsened by certain bacteria in the gut.
These bacteria can overpower the beneficial bacteria that usually keep our gut healthy. When this happens, the harmful bacteria produce toxins that increase inflammation and can damage organs like the liver, kidneys, and brain.
To combat this, the standard treatment for cirrhosis has been to use antibiotics to kill off the harmful bacteria. However, this treatment is not without its problems, as it can lead to antibiotic resistance and is generally used only in the late stages of the disease.
The carbon beads, created by UCL in partnership with a company called Yaqrit, offer a new approach. These beads are tiny, even smaller than a grain of salt, and are designed to absorb both large and small molecules in the gut.
This includes the toxins produced by harmful bacteria. By absorbing these toxins, the beads help create a healthier environment in the gut, which allows the good bacteria to thrive and reduces the damage to other organs.
In experiments with rats and mice, the beads were given daily for several weeks. The results were promising: the beads prevented the worsening of liver scarring and reduced overall mortality in animals with acute-on-chronic liver failure, a severe form of liver disease.
The researchers also tested the beads in 28 patients with cirrhosis and found them to be safe with minimal side effects.
The positive findings in animal studies have paved the way for further trials in humans to see if the beads can be as effective. If they are, these beads could become a valuable tool for treating liver disease and potentially other conditions related to an imbalanced gut microbiome, such as irritable bowel syndrome.
Professor Rajiv Jalan, a leading expert at the UCL Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, explained the importance of these findings. He highlighted how the gut microbiome—the community of microorganisms living in our intestines—plays a crucial role in our overall health.
Disruptions in this microbiome can lead to a variety of health issues. The carbon beads work by absorbing toxins that disrupt the microbiome, thus protecting against the damage these toxins can cause.
The journey of these carbon beads from a research idea at UCL to a potential new treatment was supported by funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 program. This funding helped establish a manufacturing plant for the beads and further research into their possible uses.
As the next phase of human trials approaches, there is hope that these beads could soon offer a new, effective way to manage liver diseases and improve gut health, marking a significant advancement in how we treat conditions associated with the gut microbiome.
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The research findings can be found in Gut.
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