Medical Bulletin 29/August/2025 - Video

Cancer patients are four to seven times more likely to develop venous thromboembolism, which is fatal in approximately one out of every seven affected individuals. In this study, researchers explored how a diet high in protein or tryptophan influenced thrombosis in experimental models with colon cancer.

The team discovered that models fed a high-protein or tryptophan-rich diet developed more severe vascular thrombosis than those on a balanced diet. Inhibiting the enzyme responsible for tryptophan metabolism reduced vascular injury, and the metabolite kynurenine—produced during tryptophan breakdown—was found to impact coagulation factors that promote clot formation.

The findings are particularly relevant for cancer patients, who are often advised to increase protein intake to combat cancer-cachexia and the side effects of chemotherapy. Researchers emphasize the need for further investigation into how dietary protein and specific amino acids may influence thrombosis risk in cancer patients.

“Although our new findings are based on experimental models, we believe that knowledge gained from this study could prompt interest in further testing relevance to the human condition,” said co-corresponding author Katya Ravid, Barbara E. Corkey Professor at the university.

Reference: Lotfollahzadeh, S., Jose, A., Yang, X., Bathla, T., Lazowski, A., Hoekstra, I., ... & Chitalia, V. C. (2025). Dietary Tryptophan Augments Cancer-Associated Venous Thrombogenicity Mitigated by Indoleamine 2, 3-Dioxygenase 1 Inhibition. Blood Advances.

Even Heavy Drinkers Benefit: How Healthy Eating and Exercise Protect the Liver

A new study published in the Journal of Hepatology has found that maintaining a healthy diet and engaging in regular physical activity can significantly reduce the risk of liver-related death, even among individuals who engage in heavy or binge drinking. The research, conducted by a team led by Dr. Naga Chalasani from the Indiana University School of Medicine, emphasizes the critical role of lifestyle behaviors in mitigating the harmful effects of alcohol on the liver.

The study aimed to better understand how physical activity and diet interact with varying patterns of alcohol consumption in determining liver-specific mortality.

Using data from 60,334 adults from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), researchers assessed participants' self-reported alcohol use—categorized as light, moderate, or heavy—alongside dietary habits and physical activity levels. These were then linked to mortality data from the National Death Index.

The findings were striking: Any amount of daily alcohol intake or binge drinking is associated with an increased risk of liver mortality. However, the study also found that “a healthy diet and increased physical activity lower the risk of liver-related death across all drinking patterns, even among heavy or binge drinkers.

Women were found to be at higher risk of liver-related death from alcohol but gained more protective benefits from healthy eating and exercise compared to men. Diets rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, seafood, and plant-based proteins—with reduced intake of unhealthy fats, sugars, and alcohol—were especially effective in lowering liver mortality risk.

Importantly, economically disadvantaged groups were identified as more vulnerable due to higher exposure to unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, and risky alcohol use.

“We found that adherence to high levels of physical activity and/or diet quality was associated with a lower risk of liver-related death across all drinking patterns, including 36% and 69% liver mortality risk reduction from physical activity and 86% and 84% liver mortality risk reduction from healthier eating among heavy and binge drinkers, respectively,” says Dr. Chalasani.

Reference: Healthy eating and physical activity significantly lower sex-specific alcohol-attributable liver mortality in the United States, Vilar-Gomez, Eduardo et al., Journal of Hepatology, Volume 0, Issue 0

Death from Liver Disease in Parents Linked to Elevated Hepatitis Risk in Children: Study Finds

A new study published in hepatology communications reveals that individuals whose parent died from liver disease face more than double the risk of developing alcohol-associated hepatitis (AH)—a severe and often fatal form of liver disease—compared to heavy drinkers without such a family history. The research, conducted by scientists at the Indiana University School of Medicine and the Regenstrief Institute, sheds light on a potential familial or genetic susceptibility that could help identify high-risk individuals earlier.

Alcohol-associated hepatitis is one of the deadliest forms of alcohol-related liver disease, with limited treatment options and high short-term mortality. While excessive alcohol use is a well-known risk factor, not all heavy drinkers develop alcohol-associated hepatitis, leaving researchers searching for biological or genetic mechanisms that may predispose certain individuals.

The study analyzed data from two large, multicenter cohorts: one including patients diagnosed with alcohol-associated hepatitis and another consisting of heavy drinkers who had not developed significant liver disease. Researchers found that although parental alcohol use disorder was common across both groups, it was specifically a parent's death due to liver disease that was associated with a markedly higher risk of developing alcohol-associated hepatitis.

“Alcohol-associated hepatitis is a life-threatening condition with high short-term mortality. So far there is no effective treatment that is approved by the FDA,” said first author Dr. Wanzhu Tu, Professor at IU School of Medicine and a Regenstrief Research Scientist. “The best way to reduce the mortality and morbidity of alcohol-associated hepatitis is to prevent it from occurring in the first place, which is why reducing alcohol consumption has always been a primary focus,” he added.

The researchers also observed that patients with alcohol-associated hepatitis who had a parent die from liver disease were more likely to die themselves within 90 days of diagnosis. “A parent’s death from liver disease is a clear and measurable risk marker,” said corresponding author Dr. Samer Gawrieh. “Recognizing this can help clinicians identify those at higher risk for alcohol-associated hepatitis and guide preventive strategies.”

These findings underscore the importance of family history in assessing liver disease risk and highlight the urgent need for targeted prevention strategies among vulnerable populations.

Reference: Tu, Wanzhu1; Gawrieh, Samer1; Nephew, Lauren1; McClain, Craig2; Tang, Qing1; Dasarathy, Srinivasan3; Vatsalya, Vatsalya2; Simonetto, Douglas A.4; Kettler, Carla1; Szabo, Gyongyi5; Barton, Bruce6; Yu, Yunpeng1; Kamath, Patrick S.4; Sanyal, Arun J.7; Nagy, Laura3; Mitchell, Mack C.8; Liangpunsakul, Suthat1; Shah, Vijay H.4; Chalasani, Naga1; Bataller, Ramon9; on behalf of the AlcHepNet Investigators. Parental liver disease mortality is associated with unfavorable outcomes in patients with alcohol-associated hepatitis. Hepatology Communications 9(6):e0666, June 2025. | DOI: 10.1097/HC9.000000000000066