A compound manufactured by gut bacteria from dietary protein may protect unborn children from developing fatty liver disease, even when their mothers consume junk food throughout pregnancy.

Story Snapshot

• Indole, produced by gut bacteria from tryptophan, shielded offspring mice from fatty liver disease despite maternal Western diets high in fat and sugar
• University of Oklahoma researchers discovered maternal indole supplementation altered offspring microbiomes, preventing liver disease progression into adulthood
• Protected offspring showed healthier livers, better blood sugar control, reduced weight gain, and smaller fat cells through activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor pathway
• The study addresses pediatric MASLD, a condition progressing faster in children than adults and affecting roughly one in four American adults

The Mother’s Microbiome Shapes Generational Health

Jacob Friedman and Karen Jonscher at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center fed pregnant and lactating mice a Western-style diet loaded with fat and sugar. Some received indole supplementation during this critical window. Their offspring inherited dramatically different health trajectories. Babies born to indole-supplemented mothers developed healthier livers, maintained better weight, controlled blood sugar more effectively, and carried smaller fat cells. The protection persisted even after researchers weaned the offspring and challenged them with obesity-inducing diets designed to trigger fatty liver disease.

How a Simple Bacterial Compound Rewires Disease Risk

Indole works through the aryl hydrocarbon receptor, a cellular switch controlling inflammation and metabolism. When maternal gut bacteria convert dietary tryptophan into indole, the compound crosses into offspring during gestation and nursing, fundamentally restructuring their intestinal bacterial communities. Friedman explained that offspring inherit their microbiome from their mother, meaning a poor maternal diet shapes the infant’s microbiome in harmful ways. The research team confirmed this microbiome connection by transplanting feces from protected offspring into vulnerable mice, successfully transferring the liver protection. Chemical analysis revealed the transplanted microbiomes reduced harmful long-chain ceramides while boosting beneficial very long-chain ceramides.

The Escalating Crisis of Pediatric Fatty Liver Disease

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, formerly called nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, afflicts approximately thirty percent of American adults. Pediatric cases present a graver concern because the condition accelerates more rapidly in children, frequently linking to diabetes development. Western dietary patterns rich in processed foods, added sugars, and saturated fats drive this epidemic across generations. The Oklahoma study published in eBioMedicine on February eighth offers a prevention pathway targeting the earliest stages of life. Rather than treating established disease in children or adults, maternal microbiome modification could prevent the condition from ever taking root.

Tryptophan-Rich Foods Could Become Preventive Medicine

The findings point toward accessible dietary interventions rather than expensive pharmaceuticals. Tryptophan, the amino acid gut bacteria convert into protective indole, appears abundantly in turkey, chicken, nuts, seeds, and dairy products. Pregnant women consuming adequate protein from these sources naturally boost tryptophan availability for bacterial conversion. Probiotic strains producing indole, including certain Lactobacillus species, could complement dietary approaches. The research team’s work suggests low-cost nutritional strategies might substantially reduce pediatric liver disease incidence. This approach aligns with practical, family-centered health decisions that empower mothers without requiring medical interventions or prescriptions throughout pregnancy.

Scientists found a gut compound that helps protect the liver | @ScienceDaily #indole https://t.co/FXqd91wpQH

— Neil Floch MD (@NeilFlochMD) February 8, 2026

The University of Oklahoma team now faces the standard challenge of translating mouse findings into human applications. Clinical trials examining tryptophan supplementation or probiotic interventions during pregnancy represent logical next steps. The research connects to broader investigations of the gut-liver axis, including recent work showing specific bacterial strains metabolizing dietary sugars to prevent liver fat accumulation in fish models and UC Davis discoveries of individual bacterial molecules repairing simultaneous gut and liver damage. These converging lines of evidence strengthen the case that manipulating gut bacteria offers legitimate therapeutic potential for liver disease prevention across multiple mechanisms and life stages.

Sources:

Scientists found a gut compound that helps protect the liver – ScienceDaily
Gut Compound Discovered to Shield Liver Health – Mirage News
Maternal microbiome compound preventing liver disease – University of Oklahoma
Naturally Occurring Compound May Hold Key to Preventing Liver Disease – SciTechDaily
Gut microbes protect the liver by digesting fatty liver-causing sugar, fish study shows – Microbiome Post
UC Davis scientists find a microbial molecule that restores gut and liver health – UC Davis Health