KUWAIT CITY, Nov 29:  Increasing dietary fibre through common vegetables could prevent and even reverse fatty liver disease caused by high fructose consumption, a new study published in Nature Metabolism has found.

Researchers from the University of California, Irvine, said excessive dietary fructose, often found in soft drinks and processed foods, promotes fat accumulation in the liver, leading to inflammation, scarring, and in severe cases, cirrhosis. The condition can also increase the risk of heart disease and is difficult to diagnose, as patients may not show significant weight gain.

The study highlighted that a type of dietary fibre called inulin, abundant in vegetables such as Jerusalem artichokes, chicory root, leeks, asparagus, garlic, and onions, as well as in wheat, barley, and rye, can alter gut bacteria to combat fructose-related liver damage.

“We found that consuming inulin changes gut bacteria to promote the breakdown of harmful dietary fructose,” said Cholsoon Jang, co-author of the study. The research identified the gut bacterium Bacteroides acidifaciens as a key factor in mitigating liver damage when supplemented with inulin.

In male mice, the study showed that inulin-adapted gut microbiota catabolizes dietary fructose and can reduce or reverse insulin resistance, providing new strategies to protect against liver damage and metabolic dysfunction.

“These findings provide a mechanism for how fibre can help the gut microbiome limit the body’s exposure to harmful nutrients,” the researchers wrote. Dr. Jang added that identifying specific gut bacteria and metabolic pathways could guide personalized nutrition strategies, including targeted prebiotic or probiotic supplementation, to improve liver health and reduce side effects.

The study emphasizes the potential of dietary choices as preventive medicine, using fibre-rich vegetables to strengthen gut health and protect the liver from fructose-induced damage.