Fatty liver disease has become one of the fastest-growing health problems around the world. The condition, now known as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease or MASLD, happens when too much fat builds up inside the liver.
It is especially common in people who are overweight or obese. Researchers estimate that about three out of every four people carrying excess body weight have some degree of fatty liver disease.
Many people with MASLD do not realize they have it because the disease often causes no obvious symptoms in its early stages. However, the condition should not be ignored. Over time, excess fat can trigger inflammation and damage liver cells.
If the disease continues to worsen, it may lead to scarring of the liver, known as cirrhosis, and in some cases may even increase the risk of liver cancer.
Doctors usually recommend lifestyle changes as the main treatment. Losing weight, exercising regularly, and improving eating habits can significantly reduce liver fat. However, maintaining these changes can be difficult for many people. For this reason, scientists are looking for additional therapies that might support liver health.
A new study from researchers at the University of Jyväskylä and the University of Eastern Finland suggests that a special type of dietary fiber may offer some benefits. The findings were published in the journal npj Gut and Liver.
The researchers investigated a prebiotic fiber called xylo-oligosaccharides, often shortened to XOS. Prebiotics are different from probiotics.
Instead of containing live bacteria, prebiotics are types of fiber that feed helpful microbes already living in the gut. Human digestive enzymes cannot break down these fibers, so they travel to the large intestine, where they become food for certain bacteria.
Scientists have increasingly become interested in the relationship between the gut and the liver. The gut contains trillions of microorganisms that help digest food and produce many chemicals.
Some of these substances benefit health, while others may contribute to disease. Researchers now believe that an unhealthy balance of gut microbes may play an important role in the development of fatty liver disease.
The study included 42 overweight adults. The participants took 2.8 grams of XOS every day for four months. Before and after the intervention, researchers used magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, to measure the amount of fat stored in the liver.
The findings showed that the fiber supplement reduced certain harmful compounds produced by gut bacteria. These substances are created during the breakdown of amino acids and have previously been linked to the accumulation of fat in the liver.
The researchers believe that lowering these harmful metabolites may improve the environment inside the gut and potentially benefit liver health.
Interestingly, the supplement did not work equally well for everyone. The greatest benefits were seen in people whose gut microbiota appeared to be imbalanced at the beginning of the study. These individuals showed signs that their gut bacteria were relying too heavily on protein fermentation instead of carbohydrate fermentation.
After taking XOS, the balance of their gut microbes improved, and they also experienced reductions in visceral fat, the type of fat that accumulates around internal organs and is linked to many health problems.
The supplement appeared to be less effective in participants who already showed blood markers suggesting more advanced stages of fatty liver disease. This finding suggests that the timing of treatment may be important and that some people may benefit more than others.
This study is significant because it is the first clinical trial in humans to examine whether XOS supplements can influence liver fat. The results are consistent with earlier studies in rats that found similar improvements in fatty liver.
The study has several strengths, including the use of MRI scans and the investigation of both gut bacteria and liver health.
However, the study also has limitations. Only 42 people participated, and the intervention lasted just four months. Larger and longer studies are needed to confirm the findings and determine whether the supplement can prevent liver disease progression.
Overall, the research offers early evidence that improving gut health with a simple fiber supplement may support liver health in certain people. The findings also highlight that personalized approaches may be important because the makeup of a person’s gut bacteria appears to influence how well the treatment works.
If you care about liver health, please read studies about simple habit that could give you a healthy liver, and common diabetes drug that may reverse liver inflammation.
For more information about health, please see recent studies about simple blood test that could detect your risk of fatty liver disease, and results showing this green diet may strongly lower non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Source: University of Jyväskylä and University of Eastern Finland.
