Fiber-Driven Gut Bacteria May Reverse Fatty Liver Disease, Study Shows

A new study from UC Irvine may have finally discovered how dietary fiber protects the body from sugar damage and how the protection begins in the gut.

Researchers at the UCI School of Medicine have found that inulin, a fiber naturally found in vegetables like onions, garlic and artichokes, can reshape the bacteria living in your gut to stop fructose before it reaches your liver.

“We found that consuming a type of dietary fiber called inulin…changes the bacteria in the gut to promote the consumption of harmful dietary fructose,” said lead researcher Cholsoon Jang, PhD, of the UCI Nutrient Metabolism and Disease Laboratory.

The findings, published in Nature Metabolism, reveal a new level of protection offered by fiber, not only in digestion, but also in how the body handles sugar at the molecular level.

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Scientists say fiber could help prevent or reverse early signs of fatty liver disease. (iStock)

Jang and his team found that when people consume fructose (a common sugar in fruits and sugary foods), gut bacteria in the small intestine can metabolize it before it reaches the liver. But without enough fiber, too much fructose “overflows,” overwhelming the liver and triggering fat accumulation.

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Fructose is a sugar found in fruit that can “leak” into the liver, leading to liver disease. (iStock)

By feeding gut bacteria inulin, researchers found that the microbes burned fructose early, avoiding this cascade of damage.

Even more striking, once these bacteria were “primed” by inulin, they were able to reverse the signs of fatty liver disease, thereby reducing fat accumulation and boosting the liver’s natural antioxidants.

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Jang says research proves that not all calories are equal.

He says their work provides “insight into how fiber protects our health from harmful nutrients like fructose.”

The Nature Metabolism study identified how specific gut bacteria metabolize sugar before it reaches the liver. (iStock)

The study focused on non-obese participants: people who might otherwise go unnoticed but nonetheless face hidden risks from a high-sugar diet.

Jang noted that metabolic damage is not limited to overweight people. Even people who appear healthy can suffer from liver stress and insulin resistance if their gut microbes aren’t equipped to handle excess fructose.

“By identifying specific gut bacteria and metabolic pathways involved, our findings can guide personalized nutritional strategies,” Jang said.

Vegetables like garlic, artichokes and onions can be a good source of inulin, the useful fiber studied by the research team. (iStock)

He added that future research will explore whether other common fibers beyond inulin can trigger similar protective effects.

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The implications extend far beyond the laboratory. If certain fiber can train gut microbes to neutralize sugar before it harms the liver, it could open the door to new treatments for fatty liver disease, diabetes, obesity and even cancer.

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For now, researchers say the findings indicate that fiber not only aids digestion, but may also support metabolic health.

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As Jang says: “For example, by checking how well a person’s gut bacteria eliminates fructose before the body absorbs it, we can choose the appropriate prebiotic or probiotic supplement for that person to improve results and reduce side effects.” »