Gut bacteria trained by fiber can reverse fatty liver disease, study shows

A new UC Irvine study may have finally revealed how dietary fiber protects the body from the harms of sugar, and how protecting yourself starts in the gut.

Researchers at the UCI School of Medicine found that inulin, a naturally occurring fiber found in vegetables such as onions, garlic and artichokes, can stop fructose before it hits your liver by remodeling the bacteria living in your gut.

“We found that consuming a type of dietary fiber called inulin… promotes harmful dietary fructose consumption by altering the bacteria in the gut,” said lead investigator Cholsoon Jang, PhD, of the UCI Laboratory of Food Metabolism and Disease.

The findings, published in the journal Nature Metabolism, reveal the new level of protection fiber offers not only in digestion but also in how the body processes sugar at the molecular level.

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Jang and his team discovered that when people eat fructose (a sugar commonly used in fruits and sweetened foods), gut bacteria in the small intestine can metabolize it before it reaches the liver. But without enough fiber, too much fructose “spills”, stressing the liver and triggering fat accumulation.

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Fructose is a sugar found in fruit that can ‘spill’ into the liver and lead to liver disease. (iStock)

Researchers who fed inulin to gut bacteria found that the microbes burned fructose early, preventing this stage of damage.

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

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Jang says research proves that not all calories are created equal.

He says his studies “provide 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 still face hidden risks from high-sugar diets.

Jang noted that metabolic damage is not limited to the overweight. Even seemingly healthy people can experience liver stress and insulin resistance if the microbes in their gut are not equipped to handle excess fructose.

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

Vegetables such as garlic, artichokes and onions may be good sources of inulin, the beneficial fiber that the research team studied. (iStock)

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

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The consequences extend far beyond the laboratory. If certain fibers can train gut microbes to neutralize sugar without damaging the liver, this could open the door to new treatments for fatty liver disease, diabetes, obesity and even cancer.

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For now, researchers explain, the findings suggest fiber not only aids digestion but may also be an advocate for metabolic health.

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