The maternal microbiome could be a key factor in preventing liver diseases.
In Oklahoma City, researchers have uncovered a concerning link: children born to mothers who follow diets high in fat and sugar during pregnancy and breastfeeding are at an elevated risk for developing fatty liver disease as they grow older. However, new findings from the University of Oklahoma offer a glimpse of hope. A recent study revealed that when pregnant and lactating mice were given a naturally occurring compound from beneficial gut bacteria, the likelihood of their offspring developing fatty liver disease later decreased significantly.
This compound, indole, is produced by healthy gut bacteria as they metabolize tryptophan, an amino acid prevalent in foods like turkey and various nuts. The research sheds light on potential preventive strategies for a specific type of fatty liver disease known as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). This condition is not just limited to adults; children can also suffer, and alarmingly, it often progresses more swiftly in younger patients and is closely associated with diabetes.
Jed Friedman, Ph.D., who directs the OU Health Harold Hamm Diabetes Center and teaches biochemistry and physiology at the OU College of Medicine, noted, "Approximately 30% of children with obesity and around 10% of those without obesity are affected by MASLD. The risk escalates if a mother is either obese or follows a poor diet. Moreover, this disease often goes unnoticed in children until symptoms prompt parents to seek medical assistance."
Friedman co-authored this significant study, which was published in the journal eBioMedicine, alongside Karen Jonscher, Ph.D., an associate professor in the same department. Their research centered around the hypothesis that gut bacteria, collectively referred to as the microbiome, play a crucial role in the onset of fatty liver disease.
To explore this hypothesis, the team fed female mice a Western-style diet rich in fats and sugars during their pregnancy and nursing periods. Some of these mice also received indole supplements. After weaning, the offspring were maintained on a standard diet before being subjected to a Western-style diet designed to induce fatty liver disease.
Friedman emphasized, "Offspring inherit their microbiome from their mothers, meaning an unhealthy maternal diet can negatively alter the infant's microbiome."
The results for the offspring whose mothers had been supplemented with indole were promising. These mice exhibited healthier liver functions, managed lower weight gain, maintained reduced blood sugar levels, and had smaller fat cells, even after being introduced to a typical Western diet as they aged. Additionally, researchers noted the activation of a protective gut pathway involving the acyl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR).
Interestingly, harmful liver fats known as long-chain ceramides remained stable, while beneficial very long-chain ceramides saw an increase. Perhaps the most intriguing finding was that transferring the gut bacteria from these protected offspring to other mice—who had not been exposed to indole—resulted in reduced liver damage in those recipient mice. This discovery further supports the idea that the microbiome plays a vital role in providing protection against liver disease.
Although these findings are based on studies conducted with animals, and further research is necessary before translating them to humans, this study opens up exciting possibilities for new strategies aimed at preventing the rising incidence of MASLD through early intervention.
Currently, aside from weight reduction, there are no approved treatments for pediatric MASLD once it has developed. Jonscher remarked, "Any efforts to enhance the mother's microbiome may significantly aid in preventing MASLD in her children. This proactive approach is certainly preferable to attempting to treat the disease after it has already manifested."
So, what are your thoughts? Could improving maternal health truly alter the trajectory of childhood liver diseases? Share your opinions below!
