Food-Derived Dihydromyricetin and Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease: A Preclinical Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Why It Matters

The findings position DHM as a promising multi‑target nutraceutical for MASLD, a disease lacking approved pharmacotherapies, and highlight the need for standardized dosing studies before clinical translation.

Key Takeaways

• DHM lowered hepatic triglycerides and cholesterol in mice
• Liver enzymes ALT, AST, ALP improved with DHM
• Serum LDL decreased; HDL increased after treatment
• Antioxidant markers rose while TNF‑α, IL‑6 fell
• Effect size varied with dose and treatment length

Pulse Analysis

Metabolic dysfunction‑associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) now affects up to 38 % of adults, outpacing many chronic conditions and creating a sizable unmet therapeutic need. Lifestyle change remains the cornerstone of care, yet adherence is poor, prompting researchers to explore natural compounds with metabolic benefits. Dihydromyricetin, a flavonoid extracted from vine tea, has long been consumed in East Asia and has attracted scientific interest for its antioxidant and lipid‑modulating properties, making it a candidate for MASLD intervention.

The new preclinical meta‑analysis aggregates data from fourteen high‑fat‑diet mouse models, revealing that DHM delivers consistent, statistically significant improvements across eight physiological domains. Hepatic fat accumulation and serum cholesterol dropped, liver enzymes normalized, and body weight trends reversed. Importantly, DHM enhanced the pAMPK/AMPK signaling axis, a pathway known to regulate fatty‑acid oxidation and glucose metabolism, while simultaneously bolstering superoxide‑dismutase, catalase, and glutathione systems and suppressing TNF‑α and IL‑6. Heterogeneity analyses suggest that higher doses and longer treatment periods amplify benefits, underscoring the importance of dose‑response optimization.

For the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical sectors, these results provide a data‑driven rationale to advance DHM toward human trials. Standardizing preclinical protocols—such as animal strain, diet composition, and DHM formulation—will improve reproducibility and inform bioavailability targets. If clinical efficacy mirrors preclinical promise, DHM could become a cost‑effective, plant‑based adjunct to existing MASLD management strategies, potentially capturing a multi‑billion‑dollar market as regulatory pathways for nutraceuticals evolve. Stakeholders should monitor upcoming phase‑I studies that will clarify safety, optimal dosing, and translational relevance.