Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MASLD) occurs when fat accumulates in the liver as a result of metabolic disorders, not alcohol consumption.
A medicinal combination from Japan and the United Kingdom
A study conducted by Spanish scientists showed that combining the cholesterol-lowering drug pimafibrate with telmisartan, commonly used in Britain to treat high blood pressure, can significantly reduce fat accumulation in the liver.
Experiments on mice and zebrafish have shown that this combination not only improves liver health but also reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, making it a treatment with dual benefits.
Professor Marta Allegret of the University of Barcelona, who participated in the study, described the results as "very encouraging," explaining that the two drugs "work together to lower blood pressure and cholesterol, two major risk factors for heart disease in patients with fatty liver disease."
Trials showed that taking a half dose of each drug together was as effective as using a full dose of either drug alone in reducing fat accumulation caused by a diet high in fat and fructose — a sugar found in fruits, honey, soft drinks, and processed sweets.
The study showed that telmisartan helps restore normal levels of PCK1 protein in the liver, a protein that disappears in people with MASLD.
Despite the promising results, scientists emphasized that the study is still in its early stages, having been conducted only on animals. Professor Allegret said, "To translate these findings into a practical treatment for humans, we need clinical studies to prove that the benefits we observed in animals can be replicated in patients."
It's worth noting that liver disease is no longer limited to the elderly or alcoholics, with cases among young people and children experiencing an alarming increase.
The disease often begins with a buildup of fat in the liver, but in about a quarter of patients, it progresses to a more serious stage known as metabolic steatohepatitis (MASH), in which persistent inflammation leads to liver scarring and fibrosis, increasing the risk of liver failure or liver cancer.
As liver function deteriorates, symptoms such as jaundice, abdominal bloating, and impaired consciousness may appear due to the accumulation of toxins in the blood, which are signs that the condition has progressed to critical stages.
Scientists hope this drug combination will open the door to a safe and effective treatment that can reduce the complications of this silent disease.
The study was published in the journal Pharmacological Research.
