A recent study has revealed that resistant starch could be a game-changer in reducing harmful liver fat and enzymes in people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
This common liver condition affects about 30% of the global population and can lead to severe health issues like liver disease, type 2 diabetes, and heart problems.
What the Study Found
Led by Huating Li from Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital, the research was published in Cell Metabolism and focused on 200 patients with NAFLD. The participants were divided into two groups.
One group received resistant starch powder made from maize, while the control group was given a similar corn starch that did not have resistant properties. Both groups took 20 grams of their respective starch, mixed with water, before meals twice a day for four months.
The results were striking. The group that consumed resistant starch showed almost 40% lower levels of liver triglycerides compared to the control group. Triglycerides are a type of fat in the blood, and high levels in the liver can lead to NAFLD.
Additionally, the resistant starch group had lower levels of liver enzymes and inflammatory markers associated with liver damage. These improvements remained consistent even after accounting for weight loss.
Why Resistant Starch Works
The study also examined participants’ gut bacteria through stool samples. It found that those who consumed resistant starch experienced changes in their gut microbiota.
One significant change was the reduction of a bacteria species called Bacteroides stercoris, which is known to impact fat metabolism in the liver. This shift in gut bacteria may be one reason why resistant starch had such a positive effect on liver health.
Resistant starch acts like dietary fiber, passing through the stomach and small intestine largely undigested. When it reaches the colon, it serves as food for beneficial gut bacteria.
This can lead to the production of helpful compounds like short-chain fatty acids, which have been linked to various health benefits, including improved liver function.
A Simple and Sustainable Treatment
The findings offer hope for a simple and sustainable way to manage NAFLD. Unlike intense exercise programs or difficult weight loss plans, adding resistant starch to a balanced diet is relatively easy.
As Huating Li points out, it’s a more practical approach that people are likely to stick with over time.
The study also highlights the growing understanding of how gut bacteria play a role in liver health. By targeting the microbiota, researchers believe they could develop new strategies for treating NAFLD in the future.
Looking Ahead
While this study is promising, more research is needed to fully understand the role of resistant starch in liver health and to explore the long-term effects of this treatment.
The research team plans to continue investigating how resistant starch impacts NAFLD, which could lead to new therapeutic options for this widespread and serious condition.
For those interested in improving their liver health, there are additional studies suggesting that diets focused on reducing inflammation could help prevent NAFLD. Other research points to the benefits of vitamin D and even coffee consumption in reducing the risk of liver disease.
These findings could make resistant starch a valuable addition to the ongoing fight against fatty liver disease, offering a natural, cost-effective approach to managing the condition.
The study’s publication in Cell Metabolism marks a significant step forward in understanding how dietary changes can positively affect liver health and overall well-being.
If you care about liver health, please read studies about a diet that can treat fatty liver disease and obesity, and coffee drinkers may halve their risk of liver cancer.
For more information about liver health, please see recent studies that anti-inflammatory diet could help prevent fatty liver disease, and results showing vitamin D could help prevent non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
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