New research from Edith Cowan University (ECU) has found that eating fruit and nuts may help protect against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), while a popular fibre supplement could make the condition worse.
NAFLD affects about one in three Australians and is the most common liver disease worldwide, impacting 38 per cent of the global population. Linked to obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure, the disease can lead to liver failure or cancer — and currently has no known cure.
ECU scientists have discovered that ellagic acid, a compound found in foods such as pomegranates, berries, grapes and walnuts, may help prevent or even reverse liver damage caused by NAFLD.
“We found that ellagic acid helped to protect the liver from disease,” said ECU Associate Professor Lois Balmer. “It’s a natural antioxidant with anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties and holds great promise in treating chronic diseases.”
However, the study also revealed that inulin — a soluble fibre supplement often used to support gut health — could worsen NAFLD if taken alone. Tests on mice showed that inulin increased body weight and blood glucose levels and aggravated liver damage, possibly due to gut microbe imbalances.
“This research reinforces the idea that diet matters — not just what we eat, but how different nutrients interact in the body,” Associate Professor Balmer said.
The findings were published in Molecular Nutrition and Food Research under the title Ellagic Acid Reduces Inulin’s Adverse Effects: A Combined Approach to Enhance Therapeutic Potential in Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis.
