- Researchers are reporting that resistant starch may help lower inflammation in people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
- Legumes and whole grains are among the natural sources of resistant starch.
- Experts say a healthy lifestyle and healthy weight can help prevent the onset of fatty liver disease.
New research indicates that resistant starch may positively affect metabolism.
According to a
In their study, researchers recruited 200 people with NAFLD. They provided the participants with a balanced diet designed by a nutritionist.
Half of the participants received a resistant starch powder derived from maize. The other half received a calorie-matched, non-resistant corn starch.
The scientists instructed both groups to drink 40 grams of the starch mixed with 300 milliliters (1 ¼ cups) of water before meals twice a day for four months.
After four months, researchers reported that the group that received the resistant starch treatment had almost a 40% lower liver triglyceride level compared to people in the control group.
They also had reduced liver enzymes and inflammatory factors associated with NAFLD.
The improvements remained when the scientists statistically adjusted for weight loss.
In the second stage of this study, the researchers analyzed fecal samples from the participants. They found the resistant starch group had a different microbiota composition. The treatment group had a lower level of Bacteroides stercoris, a type of bacteria that can affect fat metabolism in the liver.
The researchers transplanted fecal microbiota from the resistant starch treatment participants to mice with a high fat, high cholesterol diet. The researchers reported…
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