Study Links Fried-Food Compounds to Fatty Liver Disease

A prolonged diet high in advanced glycation end products, or AGEs — compounds that form in large quantities during frying and baking — may accelerate the development of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in animal models. According to a study published in Nutrients, researchers found that blueberry extract significantly reduced liver damage in rats fed a diet rich in dietary AGEs for 80 weeks.

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Blueberries

The authors report that supplementation with blueberry extract lowered AGE accumulation in both the blood and liver and was accompanied by improvements in glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity. Histological analysis and biomarker data showed reduced signs of fatty liver degeneration, inflammation, and fibrosis in the treated animals, along with lower levels of liver damage enzymes, compared with rats fed a high-AGE diet without intervention.

Gut Microbiota Identified as a Key Mechanism

The researchers identified the intestinal microbiota as a central factor in the observed protective effect. Blueberry extract appeared to rebalance diet-induced dysbiosis by increasing the proportion of beneficial bacteria and raising levels of acetate and propionate.

At the same time, liver tissue showed increased activity of the GPR43 receptor, while inflammatory signaling pathways were suppressed. The authors suggest that these interconnected changes may explain the reduction in liver injury observed during the experiment.

Results Limited to Long-Term Animal Experiment

The researchers emphasize that the findings are based on a prolonged experiment in rats and cannot be directly applied to humans. Further clinical trials are required to determine appropriate dosages, evaluate long-term safety, and confirm whether similar protective effects occur in people.

What Is Blueberry?

Blueberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) is a perennial shrub from the heath family that produces fruit between July and September. The plant typically grows to a height of 35 to 60 centimeters.

Blueberry bushes begin bearing fruit in their third year, with peak yields occurring between seven and eight years of age. Fruiting generally declines after 14 to 16 years, although the plants themselves can live for 50 years or longer.

The species is highly adaptable and thrives in acidic soils, peat, and sandy terrain. It most commonly grows in clusters across northern regions of Europe, Siberia, the Ural Mountains, and Karelia, as well as in the Caucasus Mountains at elevations of up to 2,800 meters above sea level. Blueberries are also found in parts of North America and Asia.