Chiba University study finds bile acid may reduce liver fat

Researchers have discovered that hyodeoxycholic acid (HDCA), a type of bile acid, can reduce excess fat accumulation in the liver of mice. The study, conducted by Chiba University in Japan and involving collaborators from the University of Cambridge in the UK, identified two distinct biological pathways through which HDCA operates, demonstrating multi-target therapeutic potential.

The findings offer new insights into managing metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), formerly known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). MASLD affects approximately one-quarter of adults globally and can progress from hepatic steatosis to inflammation, fibrosis, and eventually cirrhosis if left unmanaged. Because MASLD is often a “silent” disease with minimal early symptoms, developing effective therapeutic strategies is a significant medical priority.