Betaine to protect the liver by fixing gut-liver damage in alcohol-related liver disease
Official title: Gut-Liver Axis in the Pathogenesis of Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease: Protection by Betaine Treatment
Funded at Omaha VA Medical Center · NIH-11264784 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are testing whether betaine, a natural compound, can protect the livers of people with alcohol-related liver disease by repairing the gut barrier and lowering harmful gut-derived toxins.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Omaha VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Omaha, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2024 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I01BX006064-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11264784 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with alcohol-associated liver disease or recent alcoholic hepatitis, particularly those receiving care through the VA, would be the most relevant candidates for related clinical testing.
✕Less likely to help
People whose liver disease is caused by non-alcohol conditions or those with very advanced, end-stage cirrhosis may not benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
You would learn whether alcohol weakens the intestinal barrier and allows harmful bacterial products to reach the liver, driving inflammation. The team will study gut microbes, intestinal tight junctions, and levels of microbial molecules in the blood and liver using laboratory models and tissue or blood samples. They will give betaine to see if it restores the gut barrier and reduces liver inflammation and cell injury. Results could point toward new treatment options for people with alcoholic hepatitis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to a treatment that reduces liver inflammation and injury in people with alcohol-associated liver disease.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical studies in animals have suggested betaine and gut-targeted approaches can reduce alcohol-related liver injury, but human trials remain limited.
Where this research is happening
-
Omaha VA Medical Center
Omaha, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kharbanda, Kusum K. — Omaha VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Kharbanda, Kusum K.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.