Researchers at University College London, in collaboration with partners in the Consortium, tested these tiny oral carbon beads, known by the product name Yaq-001, in rats and mice. They found that daily ingestion of the beads over several weeks prevented the progression of liver scarring and injury in animal with induced cirrhosis, and significantly reduced mortality in animals models of acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). 

Yaq-001’s unique microscopic structure is designed to absorb harmful molecules in the gut, such as endotoxins and other toxic metabolites produced by bacteria. This absorption helps prevent these molecules from spreading throughout the body and create a healthier environment for beneficial bacteria, reducing gut inflammation and preventing damage to other organs.

The study also included the CARBALIVE-SAFETY clinical trial involving 28 patients with cirrhosis, proving the beads to be safe with negligible side effects. With further trials set to begin soon, researchers are hopeful that the positive effects seen in animal models will translate to humans. If the beads are proved to be effective at halting or slowing the progression of liver damage, they could be an invaluable tool for treating liver disease and possibly other conditions associated with gut dysbiosis – an imbalance in bacterial composition, changes in bacterial metabolic activities, or changes in bacterial distribution within the gut.

Rajiv Jalan, Professor of Hepatology at University College London, and consultant at the Royal Free Hospital, UK, said: “I have high hopes that the positive impact of these carbon beads in animal models will be seen in humans, which is exciting not just for the treatment of liver disease but potentially any health condition that is caused or exacerbated by a gut microbiome that doesn’t work as it should. This might include conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, for example, which is on the rise in many countries.”