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What's New
PubMed · November 1, 2026
Researchers found that combining two types of diabetes medications — a diabetes medication like Ozempic or Victoza (semaglutide) with a diabetes medication like Jardiance or Invokana (luseogliflozin) — may do a better job of improving liver health in people with type 2 diabetes and a serious liver condition called MASH (where fat builds up in the liver and causes scarring) compared to using just one of those medications alone. In the study, more people on the combination showed reduced liver inflammation and damage after 52 weeks, along with improvements in body weight and blood sugar level (A1C). This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · November 1, 2026
Researchers found that a diabetes medication like Jardiance or Invokana called tofogliflozin may affect the way gut bacteria process certain building blocks of protein — specifically an amino acid called phenylalanine — and that these changes in the gut appear to be linked to less scarring in the liver. This matters because many people with type 2 diabetes also develop a liver condition called MASLD (sometimes called 'fatty liver disease'), where fat and scar tissue build up in the liver over time, and finding ways to slow that damage is an active area of research. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · November 1, 2026
Researchers found that people with fatty liver disease who received a combination of nutrition counseling and talk therapy (a type of support that helps people change habits and thinking patterns) lost more weight and saw greater improvements in liver health compared to those who only received standard advice from their doctor. This matters because fatty liver disease is closely linked to serious heart problems like heart attacks or strokes, and most people struggle to stick with diet and lifestyle changes long-term — so a more hands-on, team-based approach may help more people actually follow through. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · November 1, 2026
A study found that in adults with fatty liver disease, those who consumed soybean oil daily for 16 weeks tended to see a slight decrease in liver fat, while those who consumed palm oil tended to see a slight increase — though neither change was large enough to be considered statistically definitive. This is interesting because it suggests the type of dietary fat people eat may influence liver fat levels, even without weight loss. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · November 1, 2026
Researchers found that a drug called ALG-055009 — which works by activating a specific receptor in the liver that responds to thyroid hormone — helped reduce the amount of fat built up in the livers of adults with a condition called MASH (a serious form of fatty liver disease where inflammation and damage are present). In the study, people who took the drug for 12 weeks saw meaningful reductions in liver fat compared to those who took a placebo (a dummy pill with no active ingredient), which is significant because excess liver fat can lead to scarring and long-term liver damage. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · November 1, 2026
Researchers found that two common weight-loss surgeries — sleeve gastrectomy (which removes a large portion of the stomach) and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (which reroutes the digestive system) — appear to be similarly effective at improving fatty liver disease overall. Looking at 16 studies, there was no meaningful difference between the two procedures in reducing liver damage scores. However, there were hints that results might differ depending on how long after surgery patients were followed, which could be an important clue for future research. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Lifestyle
JAMA · October 27, 2026
A study found that people with fatty liver disease who followed a very low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet — meaning they ate very few carbs like bread, pasta, and sugar while focusing on fats and proteins — and lost 10% of their body weight saw improvements in their liver health. Researchers compared this eating approach against two other diets (a Mediterranean diet and a very low-fat, plant-based diet) to see which was most effective at reducing fat buildup in the liver.
What's New
PubMed · October 23, 2026
Researchers found that a diabetes medication like Ozempic or Victoza may help people with fatty liver disease by reducing the amount of fat stored in the liver, lowering body weight, and improving blood sugar level (A1C) — which is a measure of how well blood sugar has been managed over time. The study also found improvements in liver enzyme levels, which doctors use as a sign of how much stress or damage the liver is under. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
ScienceDaily · October 19, 2026
Scientists at Mayo Clinic have found that fatty liver disease — a condition where fat builds up in the liver, affecting roughly 1 in 3 adults worldwide — isn't one single disease but actually five different conditions that just look similar on the surface. Each subtype carries its own set of risks, meaning some people may be more likely to develop serious problems like liver failure, liver cancer, or heart disease than others. This discovery could eventually help doctors figure out which patients need closer monitoring or different care, though this is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
ScienceDaily · October 17, 2026
Scientists discovered that a potential new drug may be able to reverse severe fatty liver disease — a condition where too much fat builds up in the liver and can cause serious damage — by healing the gut and stopping harmful substances from traveling through the bloodstream to the liver. This is promising because most current treatments for fatty liver disease are limited, and finding a way to target the gut-liver connection could open the door to new approaches. The research was done in animals, not humans yet, so it's still in early stages.
What's New
PubMed · October 16, 2026
Researchers found that a newer diabetes pill called imeglimin, taken twice daily for 24 weeks, helped reduce liver inflammation in people who had both type 2 diabetes and a common liver condition called metabolic-associated fatty liver disease — where too much fat builds up in the liver and can cause damage over time. Specifically, blood markers that signal liver stress dropped noticeably, and blood sugar levels (A1C) also improved. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
ScienceDaily · October 15, 2026
Researchers found that people who regularly ate food late at night — after dinner or right before bed — had a 20% to 30% higher chance of developing liver disease, including fatty liver disease and serious scarring of the liver. This was based on data from nearly 200,000 people, which makes it a notably large and meaningful finding. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
ScienceDaily · October 11, 2026
A press release describes findings from Texas A&M researchers who discovered that tiny particles of polyethylene — one of the most common plastics in everyday products like bottles and bags — may contribute to fatty liver disease, a condition where fat builds up in the liver and can cause serious damage over time. The effect appeared even worse when combined with an unhealthy diet, which is concerning because many people already face both exposures. What makes this especially noteworthy is that polyethylene was previously thought to be relatively safe compared to other plastics.
What's New
PubMed · October 6, 2026
A study found that when people with obesity and early metabolic problems (like prediabetes or excess fat in the liver) lost about 10% of their body weight, the type of diet they used made a difference in some health outcomes. People who followed a very-low-carbohydrate (ketogenic) diet saw greater improvements in liver health and blood sugar control compared to those who followed a Mediterranean or very-low-fat plant-based diet — even though all three groups lost the same amount of weight. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
ScienceDaily · October 3, 2026
Scientists discovered an enzyme called UBE2N that may act like a built-in shield for the liver — it helps liver cells clean up damaged internal parts and break down fat, which could prevent the liver from getting inflamed and scarred. This matters because when fatty liver disease gets worse, it can lead to serious liver damage that's much harder to treat. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · October 1, 2026
Researchers found that people with fatty liver disease who followed a Mediterranean diet — rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fish, and olive oil — showed meaningful reductions in body mass index (a measure of body weight relative to height) and triglycerides (a type of fat in the blood linked to heart and liver health), compared to people on other diets. These findings matter because fatty liver disease is closely tied to weight and metabolic health, and diet changes are often one of the first tools available. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · October 1, 2026
Researchers found that ice cream sweetened with brazzein — a natural sweet protein — caused a smaller rise in blood sugar after eating, compared to regular sugar-sweetened ice cream, in people with fatty liver disease (a condition where excess fat builds up in the liver). This matters because blood sugar spikes after meals are a key concern for people with this condition, and finding a satisfying sweet alternative that doesn't spike blood sugar could be meaningful for everyday food choices. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · October 1, 2026
Researchers found that dapagliflozin — a diabetes medication like Jardiance or Invokana — was linked to notable reductions in fat buildup and scarring in the liver among people with type 2 diabetes who also had a condition called metabolic liver disease, where excess fat accumulates in the liver and can slowly damage it over time. After 12 months, participants also saw improvements in blood sugar control (A1C), body weight, and liver enzyme levels, which are markers doctors use to check how well the liver is functioning. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Medications
PubMed · October 1, 2026
A study found that a medication called resmetirom (brand name Rezdiffra) helped adults with a serious form of fatty liver disease called MASH — where the liver becomes inflamed and scarred. Researchers found that people taking resmetirom were significantly more likely to see their liver inflammation improve and their scarring reduced compared to people taking a placebo (a dummy pill with no active medicine), with about 26–30% of resmetirom users showing liver improvement versus roughly 9–17% in the placebo group. This appears to be a newer treatment option, and the study also noted that resmetirom lowered LDL cholesterol — often called 'bad' cholesterol — as an added benefit.
What's New
PubMed · October 1, 2026
Researchers found that people with fatty liver disease are about 16–29% more likely to develop chronic kidney disease — a condition where the kidneys gradually lose their ability to filter waste from the blood — compared to people without fatty liver disease. This connection held up across multiple large studies, suggesting the liver and kidneys may be more closely linked in health and disease than many people realize, which could matter for how doctors monitor patients with fatty liver disease over time. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · October 1, 2026
A study found that people with obesity who took an oral version of a diabetes medication like Ozempic or Victoza lost about 10% of their body weight over 28 weeks, compared to just 2.4% in those who only changed their diet and exercise habits. Researchers also found improvements in liver fat and liver stiffness — signs that the liver may be getting healthier — which matters because excess weight is a major driver of fatty liver disease, a condition where fat builds up in the liver and can cause serious damage over time. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether oral semaglutide might help the patient lose weight and improve liver health if the patient has obesity or is overweight with other health conditions like high blood pressure or high cholesterol.
What's New
PubMed · October 1, 2026
Researchers found that a blood test called the Enhanced Liver Fibrosis (ELF) test — which measures proteins in the blood to estimate how much scarring is in the liver — may be useful for identifying different stages of liver scarring in people with fatty liver disease, without needing a biopsy (a procedure where a small piece of liver tissue is removed and examined). The study looked at results from 34 separate research efforts and found that certain score thresholds on the ELF test did a reasonably good job of spotting moderate to severe scarring, though the test worked better at ruling out scarring than at confirming advanced damage. This matters because catching liver scarring early — before it becomes severe — gives people and their doctors more options for managing the condition. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · October 1, 2026
Researchers found that certain types of intermittent fasting — eating within a limited window of time each day, or significantly cutting calories on specific days of the week — may help reduce fat buildup in the liver for people with fatty liver disease, which is a condition where too much fat collects in the liver and can cause long-term damage. Among the approaches studied, time-restricted eating (limiting meals to certain hours of the day) showed the most promise for reducing liver fat, while alternate-day fasting (alternating between normal eating days and very low-calorie days) appeared best for reducing body weight and waist size. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · October 1, 2026
A study found that in people with fatty liver disease, the amount of scarring in the liver — called fibrosis — is strongly linked to how serious the condition becomes over time. For example, people with more advanced scarring were more than ten times as likely to experience severe liver complications, like the liver losing its ability to function properly, compared to those with less scarring. This suggests that tracking liver scarring may be an important way to predict who is at greater risk of serious outcomes. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · September 30, 2026
Researchers found that eating a lot of sugar is consistently linked to a higher risk of 18 different health problems, with the strongest evidence connecting sugar intake to type 2 diabetes, obesity, serious heart problems like heart attacks or strokes, and early death. For people with type 2 diabetes especially, this matters because sugar consumption may worsen blood sugar control and raise the chances of complications beyond diabetes alone. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Guidelines
PubMed · September 22, 2026
According to the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) guidelines, people with fatty liver disease should be carefully evaluated and placed into the right category — because the type of fatty liver disease someone has (whether it's linked to metabolism, alcohol, or both) shapes how doctors approach diagnosis and treatment. This matters because fatty liver disease is the most common cause of chronic liver disease and liver-related death in the United States, so catching and managing it accurately can make a real difference in long-term health outcomes.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether the patient should be tested to see if they have metabolic dysfunction- and alcohol-associated liver disease, and what tests would show whether the patient's liver is at risk.
What's New
PubMed · September 9, 2026
Researchers found that people with fatty liver disease (a condition where fat builds up in the liver, often linked to metabolic issues like obesity or diabetes) had a 35% higher risk of developing a specific type of heart failure where the heart muscle stiffens and doesn't fill with blood properly. This is a meaningful finding because fatty liver disease is very common and often thought of as only a liver problem, but this research suggests it may also signal increased risk for certain heart conditions. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · September 1, 2026
A study found that people with fatty liver disease who followed either a low-carb, high-protein diet or standard healthy eating advice both saw meaningful reductions in fat stored in their liver — and both groups also lost weight, improved their metabolic health, and ate fewer heavily processed foods like packaged snacks and ready meals. Interestingly, no single diet stood out as clearly better than the others, suggesting that the overall improvements — including cutting back on ultra-processed foods — may matter just as much as the specific diet followed. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · September 1, 2026
A study found that two types of exercise — short bursts of intense activity (called high-intensity interval training) and steady, moderate-paced exercise done continuously — both helped people with fatty liver disease improve their liver health, body composition, and heart-related measures like cholesterol and blood sugar control. Researchers looked at 37 studies involving over 1,500 people and found both approaches were safe and practical, with the more intense interval-style exercise showing a slight edge in lowering cholesterol. This could matter for people with fatty liver disease because it suggests that different exercise styles may offer real benefits for the liver, not just overall fitness. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · September 1, 2026
Researchers found that in teenagers with severe obesity and a liver condition called MASLD — where fat builds up in the liver and can cause damage over time — a surgical procedure that reduces the size of the stomach (called sleeve gastrectomy) worked significantly better than an intensive diet and lifestyle program at improving liver health after one year. The surgery led to greater weight loss and was much more likely to fully clear the liver condition compared to lifestyle changes alone. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether the patient might be a good candidate for vertical sleeve gastrectomy surgery instead of trying an intensive lifestyle program for their liver disease and obesity.
For informational purposes only. Not medical advice. Always consult a physician before making any health decisions.