Doctors have for years been at an impasse over how to effectively treat non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, a condition that affects more than a quarter of the world's adult population.
A surprising new study suggests the exotic Amazonian berry called camu camu holds the answer to treating a non-alcoholic fatty liver.
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is a serious condition characterised by the accumulation of fat in the liver, which can lead to inflammation, scarring and even liver failure if left untreated.
It is closely linked to obesity, diabetes and metabolic disorders, making it a growing public health crisis. There are currently no approved drug treatments, leaving lifestyle changes such as weight loss and exercise as the only options.
That's why the finding that the camu camu fruit, a small red berry that grows in the Amazon rainforest, could provide a solution to the problem is considered significant. This particular fruit contains antioxidants, fibre, and other beneficial plant compounds called polyphenols.
In a recent randomised, double-blind trial published in the journal Cell Reports Medicine, researchers found that giving overweight and high-triglyceride adults just 1.5 grams of camu camu powder per day for 12 weeks significantly reduced liver fat by 15.85% compared to the placebo.
"The microbiota metabolises the large polyphenol molecules that cannot be absorbed by the intestine, transforming them into smaller molecules that the body can assimilate to decrease liver fat," explains Dr André Marette, lead author of the study.
The professor at Université Laval also found that camu camu supplementation reduced the levels of two key liver enzymes, ALT and AST, which are elevated in people with fatty liver disease and indicate liver damage.
In addition, the exotic berry appeared to beneficially alter the gut microbiome, increasing the abundance of certain bacteria linked to improved metabolic health.
The "miracle" berry
Dr Marette believes these benefits are due to the high concentration of polyphenols, which are known to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
He explains, "They could reduce lipogenesis, i.e., the formation of lipid droplets in the liver. They could also stimulate lipid degradation by oxidation. A combination of the two mechanisms probably explains the high efficacy of the extract, as we're playing on both sides of the coin."
"We hypothesize that the initial intestinal microbiota influences the response to polyphenols. If we find the factors involved, we may be able to modify the microbiota and increase the extract efficacym" the professor added.
Interestingly, the researchers found no changes in body weight or total body fat during the study, suggesting that camu camu's liver-specific effects are independent of weight loss.
This opens up the possibility that the berry could be used not only for prevention but also as a treatment for those already struggling with fatty liver disease.
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