Phytol and alcohol-related liver disease therapy insights
Official title: Phytol and alcohol-associated liver disease
Funded at Marshall University · NIH-11422313 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A small NIH grant is exploring how phytol could help people with alcohol-related liver disease by supporting the liver’s use of fats for energy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Marshall University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Huntington, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 20, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $146,549 |
| NIH project number | 1R16AA033317-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11422313 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with alcohol-related liver disease or suspected ALD who are able to participate in metabolic studies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without ALD or those unable to participate in metabolic research may not benefit from this grant.
What this research studies
This project looks at how a plant compound called phytol may boost the liver’s ability to burn fats in people affected by alcohol-related liver disease. Researchers focus on a pathway controlled by PPARα and enzymes like ACOX1 and ACOX2 to improve fat oxidation and reduce liver damage. The study uses existing knowledge about alcohol metabolism and aims to connect phytol’s effects to better outcomes for ALD patients. If successful, these findings could guide future therapies or dietary strategies for those with ALD.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to new dietary or therapeutic approaches that support liver fat metabolism in ALD patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work supports targeting fatty acid oxidation in ALD, but linking phytol specifically to ACOX1/ACOX2 via PPARα is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Marshall University
Huntington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lu, Yongke — Marshall University
- Study coordinator: Lu, Yongke
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.