Protective effects of Iso-Alpha Acids (IAA) on hepatic steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis

Iso-alpha-acids (IAA), the main bitter acids present in hops, are constituted during wort boiling with hop, thereby providing beer with its typical bitter taste and foam stability. Recent studies showed that IAA exhibit beneficial effects on glucose and lipid levels in diabetic mice and obese subjects with pre-diabetes. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is considered is the hepatic manifestation of the metabolic syndrome and related metabolic disorders. It starts with hepatocellular lipid accumulation, i.e. steatosis, and a significant number of patients also develops hepatocellular damage and inflammati…