Scientists Discover 5 Proteins That Can Predict Liver Disease up to 16 Years Before Symptoms

Researchers have identified five blood proteins that can predict the risk of developing metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) up to 16 years before symptoms appear, SciTech Daily reported.

The study, presented at Digestive Disease Week 2025, analyzed blood samples from over 50,000 participants in the UK Biobank, tracking their health records for more than 16 years. Screening more than 2,700 proteins, scientists found that CDHR2, FUOM, KRT18, ACY1, and GGT1 serve as early biomarkers for MASLD.

The combined protein levels predicted disease with 83.8% accuracy five years before diagnosis and 75.6% accuracy at 16 years. Including clinical factors like body mass index and exercise improved accuracy to 90.4% and 82.2%, respectively. The model was validated in a separate Chinese cohort, demonstrating its effectiveness across populations.

While the study does not establish causation, it offers a promising tool for early detection and intervention in MASLD, which is the most common liver disease worldwide and has a high mortality rate. Further research is ongoing to understand the underlying mechanisms.