Alcohol and Sugar Impact on Liver Metabolism

Overseen By Lucy H Christie, BSN, RN

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Must not be taking: Any regular medications

Disqualifiers: BMI >29.9, Comorbid conditions, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 1

Duration: 1 day

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to understand how alcohol (ETOH) and sugar affect liver fat production in healthy adults. Participants will consume a small amount of vodka, with or without added sugar, while researchers measure changes in liver fat synthesis. Men and women who are generally healthy, consume alcohol lightly to moderately, and have a body mass index (BMI) between 18.5 and 29.9 are suitable candidates. As an unphased trial, this study allows participants to contribute to valuable research on liver health and the effects of alcohol and sugar.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

Yes, you will need to stop taking any regular medications, except for oral contraceptives, to participate in this trial.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Research has shown that alcohol can significantly affect the liver, especially with frequent or heavy drinking. Long-term alcohol use can lead to liver problems, such as fatty liver and other metabolic issues. However, this study uses a controlled amount of alcohol, not long-term use, which reduces the risks linked to heavy drinking.

Regarding sucrose, a type of sugar, studies have found that replacing some energy intake with sucrose usually doesn't increase heart or metabolism risks in healthy adults. However, regularly consuming sugary beverages can affect liver metabolism and may increase the risk of liver issues.

This study carefully controls the amounts of both alcohol and sucrose that participants consume, helping to manage and minimize potential risks associated with these substances in the short term. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this trial because it explores how alcohol and sugar impact liver metabolism in unique ways. Unlike typical studies focusing solely on alcohol or sugar separately, this trial investigates their combined effect on liver fat production, known as de novo lipogenesis. By using deuterated water to trace metabolic changes, researchers can gain detailed insights into how these substances influence liver function over time. This approach may reveal new information about metabolic processes, potentially informing future dietary guidelines or interventions for liver health.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for liver metabolism?

This trial will compare the effects of alcohol and sucrose on liver metabolism. Research has shown that alcohol, such as ethanol, affects liver fat processing by increasing de novo lipogenesis (DNL), the body's process of making new fat. Participants in one arm of this trial will receive alcohol to study its impact on DNL. Consuming large amounts of sucrose, a type of sugar, has also been linked to increased DNL, especially compared to other sugars like glucose. Participants in another arm will receive sucrose to evaluate its effects. Sucrose and fructose, which is very similar, more effectively prompt the liver to produce fat, impacting metabolic health. Additionally, one arm will study the combined effects of alcohol and sucrose on liver metabolism. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for healthy men and women aged 21-45, with a BMI of 18.5-29.9, who drink alcohol lightly to moderately. They must understand English but can't participate if they're pregnant, breastfeeding, have a high BMI (>29.9), take regular medications (except oral contraceptives), or exercise heavily.

Inclusion Criteria

Ability to speak and understand English

Ages 21 - 45

You have a normal nutritional status.

Exclusion Criteria

BMI >29.9

You have other health conditions in addition to the one being studied.

You are pregnant or currently breastfeeding a child.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

Treatment

Participants consume deuterated water and alcohol or sucrose beverages, with blood samples collected to measure hepatic de novo lipogenesis

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

1 week

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• ETOH
• Sucrose

Trial Overview The study tests how the liver creates fat after drinking alcohol by having participants consume deuterated water and then vodka. Blood samples will be taken before and after this process in two groups: one also consuming sucrose with vodka and another with sucrose alone.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: ETOH + Sucrose Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

5 Females will receive deuterated water and drink 1.72 ounces of alcohol in the form of vodka + 7 grams of sucrose and have de novo Lipogenesis measured at 11 time points during and after.

Group II: C. Sucrose Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

5 Females will receive deuterated water and drink a solution containing water and 35 grams of sucrose, and have de novo Lipogenesis measured at 11 time points during and after.

Group III: A. ETOH Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

5 Males and 5 Females will receive deuterated water and drink 2.15 ounces of alcohol in the form of vodka and have de novo Lipogenesis measured at 11 time points during and after.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,102

Recruited

1,077,000+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6436537/

Effect of ethanol on lipid metabolism - PMC - PubMed Central Ethanol is likely unique among toxins, in that it perturbs almost all aspects of hepatic lipid metabolism.

2. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002916522041739

De novo lipogenesis, lipid kinetics, and whole-body ... In summary, the consumption of 24 g ethanol activates the lipogenic pathway in humans, but de novo synthesis of fatty acids represents a quantitatively minor ...

3. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04829110

Alcohol Induced de Novo Lipogenesis in Women 5 Males and 5 Females will receive deuterated water and drink 2.15 ounces of alcohol in the form of vodka and have de novo Lipogenesis measured at 11 time ...

4. nature.com nature.com/articles/s44324-025-00077-y

GLP-1 receptor agonism results in reduction in hepatic ... These data demonstrate that in mice, GLP-1R agonism results in a reduction in regular nutrient and ethanol diet intake, with less steatosis, de ...

5. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7112138/

Alcohol effects on hepatic lipid metabolism - PMC This review explores the disturbances of alcohol-induced hepatic lipid metabolism through altered hepatic lipid uptake, de novo lipid synthesis, fatty acid ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5513682/

Alcoholic Liver Disease: Pathogenesis and Current ... The liver sustains the greatest degree of tissue injury by heavy drinking because it is the primary site of ethanol metabolism. Chronic and excessive alcohol ...

7. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306987720300797

Ethanol metabolism: The good, the bad, and the ugly In liver, chronic ethanol metabolism results in fatty liver and general metabolic dysfunction.

8. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3484320/

ALCOHOL METABOLISM - PMC - PubMed Central - NIH Liver damage lowers the rate of alcohol oxidation and hence, elimination from the body. Ethanol is a nutrient and has caloric value (about 7 kcal per gram; ...

9. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0278691519308609

Hepatic injury and inflammation alter ethanol metabolism ... Our data suggest that alcohol metabolism is suppressed by inflammation and oxidative stress, which is correlated with decreased drinking behavior.

10. translational-medicine.biomedcentral.com translational-medicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12967-023-04166-8

Pathogenic mechanisms and regulatory factors involved in ... Chronic ethanol consumption can result in dysregulated lipid metabolism, lipid accumulation, and AFL and alter the gut-liver axis by damaging ...