Oral glucose absorption is enhanced in early metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Hepatic glucose flux plays a crucial role in the progression of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), promoting de novo lipogenesis, inflammation and fibrosis. This study aimed to evaluate the kinetics of oral glucose absorption and one of its key modulators, gastric emptying, in individuals with early-stage MASLD vs matched control individuals.

METHODS

We quantified glucose metabolic fluxes during a 75 g OGTT using stable isotopes in individuals with MASLD without fibrosis and in healthy control individuals. In a separate cohort, we measured the gastric emptying rate using the 13C-acetate breath test during an OGTT and estimated hepatic steatosis risk.

RESULTS

Compared with the control group, in the MASLD group the rate of appearance of oral ingested glucose (RaO) normalised to body weight was 34% higher at 1 h post-OGTT (+318±142 µmol/kg, p=0.031), resulting in a 52% increase in total glucose absorption (+6.4±1.8 g, p=0.001). Participants with MASLD exhibited reduced glucose clearance relative to plasma insulin levels but preserved post-load suppression of endogenous glucose production, indicating peripheral rather than hepatic insulin resistance. Among glucose metabolic fluxes, RaO showed the strongest association with prevalent MASLD, with each 1-SD increase in 1 h RaO being associated with fivefold higher odds of MASLD (OR 4.99 [95% CI 1.44, 31.57], p=0.036), independent of potential confounders. Gastric emptying rate was not associated with hepatic steatosis risk.

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Oral glucose absorption is augmented in individuals with MASLD without fibrosis, apparently unrelated to accelerated gastric emptying. This metabolic alteration may represent an early driver of MASLD pathogenesis, preceding hepatic insulin resistance. Future research should investigate whether modulation of intestinal glucose absorption confers therapeutic benefits in MASLD.