Understanding Liver Fat and Gut Health in Diverse Communities
Longitudinal Study of Early NAFLD Progression and the Gut Microbiome in Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Whites
This project looks at how gut bacteria and diet might be connected to the progression of fatty liver disease in Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and White individuals.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Hawaii at Manoa NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Honolulu, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11124164 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Fatty liver disease is a growing health concern, and we want to understand how it changes over time. We are following up with participants from a previous study to see how their gut bacteria and diet might influence their liver health. By collecting new information and samples, we hope to find specific links between gut health, diet, and the worsening of fatty liver disease. This will help us learn more about why some people's liver disease progresses and others' does not.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are existing participants from the Multiethnic Cohort Adiposity Phenotype Study (MEC-APS) who are Asian American, Native Hawaiian, or White, and were aged 60-77 years at the baseline of the previous study.
Not a fit: Patients who are not part of the specific Multiethnic Cohort Adiposity Phenotype Study or who do not have fatty liver disease may not directly benefit from this particular follow-up.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help identify new ways to prevent or slow the progression of fatty liver disease by targeting gut health or dietary factors.
How similar studies have performed: While previous cross-sectional studies have linked gut microbiome to fatty liver disease, this project is a novel longitudinal investigation designed to show how these factors change over time.
Where this research is happening
Honolulu, United States
- University of Hawaii at Manoa — Honolulu, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lim, Unhee — University of Hawaii at Manoa
- Study coordinator: Lim, Unhee
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 below.