Author Identifier (ORCID)
Tharani Senavirathna: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0973-3644
Armaghan Shafaei: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5763-531X
Lois Balmer: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5618-0555
Abstract
This mouse study investigates the efficacy of ellagic acid (EA), a potent antioxidant in fruits and nuts, and inulin, a prebiotic known for gut microbiota benefits, in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). A Western-style diet (WD) was used to induce NASH in C57BL/6J male mice for 16 weeks. Mice then received EA (100 mg/kg/day, oral gavage, 5 days/week) and/or 5% inulin (w/w in diet) for 12 weeks while continuing WD. Inulin increased energy intake and trended toward higher body weight and fasting glucose. EA reduced liver weights and restored the liver-to-body weight ratio. EA and inulin combined significantly reduced steatosis and hepatocyte ballooning, while EA alone reduced liver inflammation and improved biomarkers. In contrast, inulin alone worsened several liver parameters and increased LDL serum levels. EA, alone or combined with inulin, significantly reduced LDL. EA-treated groups showed elevated urinary 3'-methylellagic acid. Importantly, the combination of EA and inulin significantly increased urolithin A, C, and D, indicating enhanced EA metabolism and postbiotic production. While inulin alone exacerbated NASH features, EA significantly improved liver health. The combination of EA and inulin offset the adverse effects of inulin but did not further enhance the therapeutic efficacy of EA.
Keywords
Ellagic acid, inulin, NAFLD, NASH, nutraceuticals, urolithins
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of Publication
4-15-2026
Volume
70
Issue
7
PubMed ID
41958187
Publication Title
Molecular Nutrition & Food Research
Publisher
Wiley
School
Centre for Precision Health / School of Medical and Health Sciences / School of Science
RAS ID
95146
Funders
This study was funded by a Higher Degree Research Scholarship of Edith Cowan University, RL, Curtin Medical School, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, W.A., Australia. LB, School of Medical and Health Science, ECU, WA, Australia; additional financial support was provided to AS by Edith Cowan University through Strategic Research Fellow funding, WA, Australia.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
Comments
Senavirathna, T., Shafaei, A., Lareu, R. R., & Balmer, L. (2026). Ellagic acid reduces inulin’s adverse effects: A combined approach to enhance therapeutic potential in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, 70(7), e70456. https://doi.org/10.1002/mnfr.70456