01/05/2025
New research has revealed that certain blood proteins can predict the onset of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) as much as 16 years before symptoms develop. This breakthrough offers the potential for ultra-early detection and intervention, allowing high-risk individuals to take preventative steps long before irreversible liver damage occurs.
The study, led by Dr. Shiyi Yu and her team at Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital in China, found that five key proteins—CDHR2, FUOM, KRT18, ACY1, and GGT1—were strong predictors of MASLD development. These proteins were identified through an analysis of data from over 50,000 participants in the UK Biobank, with follow-up spanning more than 16 years. Researchers observed that deviations in the levels of these proteins in the blood could predict MASLD even 16 years in advance, with individuals showing higher protein levels at baseline facing nearly ten times higher risk of developing the disease.
This predictive model showed impressive accuracy, with a combined protein test surpassing current short-term prediction models. The model’s accuracy reached 90.4% for predicting MASLD within 5 years and 82.2% at 16 years, even when combined with clinical factors like BMI and exercise. This success was replicated in a smaller cohort in China, suggesting the model’s broad applicability across diverse populations.
The findings emphasize the importance of early detection, as MASLD is a leading cause of liver disease with high mortality and is often asymptomatic until advanced stages. Personalized interventions, such as counseling on diet, physical activity, and lifestyle changes, could significantly reduce the progression of the disease if implemented early, years before liver damage begins.
This approach could transform the way MASLD is managed, offering a way to monitor individuals at risk before traditional symptoms or liver function tests indicate the problem. By identifying high-risk individuals early, personalized prevention strategies could be developed, offering hope for reducing the impact of MASLD and its complications.
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