KING CHULALONGKORN MEMORIAL HOSPITAL

NTU-Led Study Identifies Stool Biomarker Angptl4 as Early Indicator of Gut Barrier Dysfunction in Fatty Liver Disease

- An international team led by NTU Singapore has identified faecal Angptl4 as a potential stool biomarker for gut barrier dysfunction, an early contributor to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). - The study, published in Nature Communications, used mouse models and clinical data from three Asian patient cohorts in Thailand, China, and India to validate the findings across diverse populations. - Researchers found that faecal Angptl4 levels rise alongside gut microbial imbalance and metabolic dysfunction, offering a simpler, non-invasive monitoring method compared to blood markers. - The team is working to streamline the PCR-based test for routine clinical use and exploring integration with existing stool-based screening programs like Singapore's Healthier SG.