Medical Bulletin 19/September/2025

Introducing solid foods is a critical milestone for babies, yet many parents are left uncertain about which foods offer the most benefit.

The study followed 61 healthy infants in the Denver area between the ages of five and 12 months. Each infant was randomly assigned to receive either a daily dose of freeze-dried blueberry powder or a placebo powder without blueberries. Parents were instructed to incorporate the powder into their child's usual diet without changing other eating habits. Stool and blood samples were collected every two months to track gut microbiota, immune system markers, and allergy symptoms.

The results were compelling. Infants who consumed the blueberry powder showed improved allergy symptoms, reduced inflammation, and signs of a stronger immune response. Moreover, researchers noted beneficial changes in gut bacteria composition, which could support long-term immune health.

Importantly, the study confirms that blueberries are not only safe for infants but can offer measurable health benefits. “Just a few blueberries a day could make a difference in supporting long-term health,” said senior author Minghua Tang, PhD, adjoint associate professor of pediatrics in the CU Anschutz School of Medicine’s Section of Nutrition. “We view infancy as a critical window of opportunity and what we introduce during this time can have lasting effects as children grow.”

As researchers continue to explore which early foods best support developing immune systems, this study offers promising guidance for parents navigating early nutrition choices.

Reference: Venter, C., Boden, S., Pickett-Nairne, K., O’Mahony, L., Glime, G. N. E., Matzeller, K. L., Frank, D. N., Kotter, C., Kofonow, J. M., Robertson, C. E., Campbell, W. W., Krebs, N. F., & Tang, M. (2025). Blueberry Consumption in Early Life and Its Effects on Allergy, Immune Biomarkers, and Their Association with the Gut Microbiome. Nutrients, 17(17), 2795. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17172795

Genetic Mapping Reveals Why Some People with Obesity Avoid Disease

A study published in Nature Medicine has identified genetic differences that help explain why some individuals with obesity remain metabolically healthy, while others go on to develop serious health conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. The research offers new insight into the biological complexity of obesity and its varied health consequences.

Obesity is often treated as a single disease, but the study challenges this notion by analyzing genetic data from 452,768 individuals from the UK Biobank. Researchers discovered variants in 205 regions of the genome that were linked to higher levels of body fat, yet paradoxically, also to better metabolic health. By aggregating the impact of these variants, the team developed a genetic risk score that could predict who might develop obesity without the associated cardiometabolic complications.

“Our study shows that obesity is not a single condition—it is made up of different subtypes, each with its own risks,” explained Nathalie Chami, PhD, first author and Instructor of Environmental Medicine and Artificial Intelligence and Human Health at the Icahn School of Medicine. The study also found that these protective genetic traits were already evident in children, suggesting early-life influences on long-term health outcomes.

The researchers went on to identify eight distinct subtypes of obesity, each with its own health implications.

However, the team emphasized that these findings do not make obesity risk-free. “Most people with obesity still face health challenges, and lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise remain critical for overall health,” noted Zhe Wang, PhD, co-first author of the study.

By revealing new genetic pathways that separate obesity from its most dangerous complications, the research opens the door for more personalized and targeted approaches to managing obesity—starting as early as childhood.

Reference: Chami, N., Wang, Z., Svenstrup, V. et al. Genetic subtyping of obesity reveals biological insights into the uncoupling of adiposity from its cardiometabolic comorbidities. Nat Med (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-025-03931-0

New Drug Stops Fatty Liver Damage in Clinical Trial

A new investigational drug targeting the root cause of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) has shown promising results in a clinical trial led by researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine. The findings, published in the online edition of The Lancet, offer new hope for patients suffering from this serious form of fatty liver disease, which affects millions globally and can lead to cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer.

The study evaluated a novel medication known as ION224, which works by inhibiting DGAT2, a liver enzyme responsible for fat production and storage. By blocking DGAT2, the drug aims to reduce both fat buildup and inflammation—two major contributors to liver damage in MASH.

In the Phase IIb clinical trial, 160 adults with biopsy- confirmed MASH and early to moderate fibrosis received monthly injections of ION224 at varying doses or a placebo over a year. The results were compelling: at the highest dose, 60% of participants showed significant liver health improvement compared to the placebo group. Importantly, the effects were independent of weight loss, suggesting the drug could complement other treatments. No serious side effects linked to the drug were reported.

Often called a "silent" disease, MASH can progress undetected for years. More than 100 million Americans are estimated to have some form of fatty liver disease, with up to 1 in 4 adults worldwide affected.

"This is the first drug of its kind to show real biological impact in MASH," said Dr. Rohit Loomba, principal investigator and chief of the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at UC San Diego School of Medicine. "If these findings are confirmed in Phase III trials, we may finally be able to offer patients a targeted therapy that halts and potentially reverses liver damage before it progresses to life-threatening stages."

Loomba emphasized the importance of early intervention to not only improve patient outcomes but also reduce long-term burdens on healthcare systems. The research team now plans to move forward with larger clinical trials to bring the therapy closer to regulatory approval and patient access.

Reference: Rohit Loomba, Erin Morgan, Keyvan Yousefi, Dan Li, Richard Geary, Sanjay Bhanot, Naim Alkhouri. Antisense oligonucleotide DGAT-2 inhibitor, ION224, for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (ION224-CS2): results of a 51-week, multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial. The Lancet, 2025; 406 (10505): 821 DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(25)00979-1