02/18/2026
New research from The University of Oklahoma and OU Health Harold Hamm Diabetes Center shows promising progress in preventing fatty liver disease in children. A recent study found that when pregnant and nursing mice received indole, a naturally occurring compound produced by healthy gut bacteria, their offspring were far less likely to develop fatty liver disease later in life.
“The prevalence of MASLD in children is about 30% in those with obesity and about 10% in children without obesity,” said Dr. Jed Friedman, director of the OU Health Harold Hamm Diabetes Center and professor of biochemistry and physiology in the OU College of Medicine. “Unfortunately, the risk is higher if a mother is obese or consumes a poor diet. The disease in children is silent and typically isn’t discovered until a parent seeks help for their child for liver-related symptoms.”
Indole is created when the gut breaks down tryptophan, an amino acid found in foods such as turkey and nuts. Researchers observed that offspring from indole-supplemented mothers had healthier livers, lower blood sugar, smaller fat cells and improved metabolic health, even when later exposed to an unhealthy diet. The study also showed a protective role of the gut microbiome along with activation of beneficial gut signaling pathways.
Dr. Friedman is a lead author of the study, along with fellow faculty member Dr. Karen Jonscher, associate professor of biochemistry and physiology in the OU College of Medicine. Their findings open the door to new approaches for preventing metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease in children. Improving the maternal microbiome may be a powerful strategy to protect future generations.
