Investigating how gut health affects liver disease caused by alcohol and the potential benefits of Betaine treatment.
Official title: Gut-Liver Axis in the Pathogenesis of Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease: Protection by Betaine Treatment
Funded at Omaha VA Medical Center · NIH-11003730 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how the health of your gut can affect liver problems in people who drink alcohol, and it will explore whether a compound called Betaine can help protect your liver by improving gut health.
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 | 2025 |
| NIH project number | 5I01BX006064-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11003730 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with alcohol use disorder who are experiencing liver inflammation or injury.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have alcohol use disorder or those with other unrelated liver diseases may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding the connection between gut health and liver disease in individuals with alcohol use disorder. It aims to explore how components from the gut microbiome contribute to liver inflammation and injury, particularly in alcoholic hepatitis. The study will investigate the protective effects of Betaine, a compound that may help restore gut barrier integrity and reduce liver damage. By examining these mechanisms, the research seeks to identify new therapeutic strategies for patients suffering from alcohol-associated liver disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatment options for patients with alcohol-associated liver disease, potentially improving their health outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the gut-liver axis and its implications for liver disease, suggesting that this approach may lead to significant advancements in treatment.
Where this research is happening
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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.