Excessive salt intake linked to severe liver disease in non-obese individuals

A study published in the journal Molecular Metabolism suggests that excessive salt consumption may contribute to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), even in individuals without obesity. MASH is a serious liver condition characterized by persistent inflammation and scarring, which can progress to cirrhosis, liver failure, or liver cancer.

Researchers from Duke-NUS Medical School, the Singapore National Heart Centre, Duke University School of Medicine, and University College London developed a mouse model to investigate how MASH occurs in non-obese subjects. The study found that high salt intake alters liver fat metabolism by increasing fat breakdown while simultaneously activating immune cells that trigger inflammatory processes.

This experimental model is expected to assist scientists in studying MASH mechanisms, identifying early detection indicators, and testing compounds designed to block salt-associated inflammatory processes.