Blackcurrants protecting liver from fatty liver disease

Blackcurrant: The Tiny Berry Battling Fatty Liver Disease

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Lena Voss in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"Could this potent berry be the key to preventing obesity-induced liver damage? New research highlights the power of blackcurrants in fighting NASH."


Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become a widespread health concern, affecting nearly 25% of adults globally. NAFLD encompasses a range of conditions, from simple steatosis (fatty liver) to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), fibrosis, and cirrhosis, with NASH being a more aggressive form characterized by inflammation and liver damage. As obesity rates climb, so does the prevalence of NASH, making it crucial to find effective preventive strategies.

Emerging research points to the potential of certain foods, particularly berries rich in polyphenols, to combat NAFLD. Blackcurrants (Ribes nigrum), packed with anthocyanins and known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, have shown promise in this area.

A recent study explored whether blackcurrant consumption could prevent the development of obesity-induced NASH in mice. The findings reveal the protective effects of blackcurrants on liver health, offering a potential dietary approach to managing and preventing this increasingly common condition.

How Blackcurrants Shield the Liver: Key Findings

Blackcurrants protecting liver from fatty liver disease

The study, published in Obesity, investigated the impact of blackcurrant powder on mice fed a high-fat, high-sucrose diet, mimicking an obesogenic Western diet. Over 24 weeks, researchers compared the effects of a control diet, a diet with blackcurrant powder, a high-fat diet, and a high-fat diet with blackcurrant powder. The results showcased the remarkable benefits of blackcurrants on several key indicators of liver health:

Here's a breakdown of the study's key findings:

  • Reduced Liver Weight and Triglycerides: Mice on the high-fat diet experienced significant increases in liver weight and triglyceride levels, both indicators of fatty liver disease. However, the addition of blackcurrant powder markedly decreased these levels, suggesting a protective effect against fat accumulation in the liver.
  • Attenuated Inflammation: The high-fat diet triggered an influx of macrophages (immune cells) into the liver, particularly the M1 type, which promotes inflammation. Blackcurrants, however, helped to reduce this infiltration, indicating a suppression of obesity-induced liver inflammation.
  • Suppressed Fibrosis: Fibrosis, the scarring of liver tissue, is a serious consequence of NASH. Blackcurrants were found to suppress the expression of fibrogenic genes and reduce collagen accumulation in the liver, suggesting a potential to prevent or slow down the progression of liver damage.
  • Modulated Immune Response: Flow cytometric analysis revealed that blackcurrants attenuated the increase in monocytes (a type of white blood cell) typically seen in mice on a high-fat diet. Furthermore, blackcurrants decreased the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in splenocytes (immune cells from the spleen), indicating a systemic anti-inflammatory effect.
  • Lowered NASH Markers: The study also found that blackcurrants decreased the levels of circulating and hepatic miR-122-5p and miR-192-5p, which are known markers for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
These findings collectively suggest that blackcurrant consumption can prevent obesity-induced steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis in the liver, highlighting its potential as a valuable dietary intervention for NASH.

The Sweet Path to a Healthier Liver

This research provides compelling evidence for the protective effects of blackcurrants against obesity-induced liver damage. The study's findings suggest that blackcurrants can target multiple pathways involved in the development and progression of NASH, including inflammation, fibrosis, and fat accumulation.

While further research is needed to confirm these findings in human studies, incorporating blackcurrants into your diet may be a promising strategy for supporting liver health, especially for individuals at risk of NAFLD due to obesity or other metabolic risk factors.

Whether enjoyed fresh, frozen, or as a supplement, blackcurrants offer a delicious and potentially powerful way to protect your liver and overall well-being. Consult with a healthcare professional or registered dietitian for personalized advice on incorporating blackcurrants into a balanced diet.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

Everything You Need To Know

1

What is nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and why is it a growing health concern?

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is an aggressive form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NAFLD starts with simple steatosis, or fatty liver, and can progress to NASH, fibrosis (scarring), and eventually cirrhosis, a severe stage of liver damage. NASH is characterized by inflammation and liver damage, making it a critical concern as obesity rates increase.

2

How do blackcurrants potentially protect the liver from damage?

Blackcurrants contain anthocyanins, which possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. A study showed that including blackcurrant powder in the diet of mice fed a high-fat, high-sucrose diet led to reduced liver weight and triglyceride levels, attenuated inflammation by decreasing the infiltration of macrophages, suppressed fibrosis by reducing the expression of fibrogenic genes, modulated the immune response by decreasing pro-inflammatory cytokines, and lowered levels of NASH markers like miR-122-5p and miR-192-5p.

3

Can you describe the study design used to investigate the effect of blackcurrants on liver health?

The study published in *Obesity* used mice fed a high-fat, high-sucrose diet to simulate an obesogenic Western diet. Researchers compared the impact of a control diet, a diet with blackcurrant powder, a high-fat diet, and a high-fat diet supplemented with blackcurrant powder over 24 weeks. This allowed them to observe the specific effects of blackcurrants on various indicators of liver health in an environment that promotes fatty liver disease.

4

What are the specific benefits of blackcurrants for preventing or managing nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), according to the research?

The research demonstrated that blackcurrants can prevent obesity-induced steatosis (fat accumulation), inflammation, and fibrosis (scarring) in the liver. This suggests that incorporating blackcurrants into the diet could be a valuable strategy for preventing and managing NASH, by targeting multiple pathways involved in the disease's development and progression. The study also indicates reduced levels of circulating and hepatic miR-122-5p and miR-192-5p, known markers for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

5

What are some unanswered questions or areas for future research regarding the use of blackcurrants for liver health?

While the study focused on blackcurrant powder supplementation in mice, it did not explore the optimal dosage for humans, potential side effects, or interactions with existing medications. Further research is needed to determine the specific form (e.g., juice, extract, whole berries) and quantity of blackcurrants that would be most effective for preventing or managing NASH in humans, as well as to understand how blackcurrants might complement other lifestyle and dietary interventions.

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