Fructose and liver health in obesity: how gut sugar handles affect NAFLD risk
Official title: Fructose Metabolism Effects on the Liver: Unraveling the Role of Defective Intestinal GNG in Individuals with Obesity
Funded at Touro University of California · NIH-11392419 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study in adults with and without obesity will explore how fructose is processed in the body and how that processing may protect or harm the liver.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Touro University of California NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Vallejo, United States) |
| Project start | August 13, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $730,498 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK140477-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11392419 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults aged 21+, with and without obesity, who can follow defined dietary protocols and provide consent for dietary testing.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals who cannot participate in dietary challenge sessions or have other health conditions preventing participation may not benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will examine how fructose is converted to glucose in the intestine and how this might shield the liver from fat buildup, comparing people with obesity to those without. The study uses one-day dietary sessions to measure liver-related responses and fat synthesis after controlled fructose intake. By focusing on real people and dietary patterns, the project aims to clarify why fructose may affect liver health differently depending on obesity status. Results could inform personalized dietary guidance for preventing type 2 diabetes and NAFLD.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could lead to more tailored dietary recommendations to reduce liver fat and diabetes risk in people with obesity.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work links fructose to liver fat formation, but this study tests a specific intestinal glucose conversion mechanism and its variation by obesity.
Where this research is happening
-
Touro University of California
Vallejo, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schwarz, Jean-Marc — Touro University of California
- Study coordinator: Schwarz, Jean-Marc
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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.