Exploring the impact of Time-Restricted Eating and Exercise interventions on Gut microbiome of patients with hepatic steatosis and obesity – TREEGut

2026-07-22

TREEGut investigates the role of the gut microbiome in reducing hepatic fat and improving cardiometabolic health through a novel intervention combining time-restricted eating (TRE) and exercise in individuals with obesity and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Innovative and easy-to-implement interventions are necessary to alleviate the burden on healthcare systems and improve patient health affected by obesity-related diseases. The gut microbiome, implicated in disease pathogenesis, presents a promising therapeutic target. TRE, an intermittent fasting method that is effective and easy to implement, shows potential benefits that could be enhanced when combined with exercise. However, the extent of the microbiome's influence on these interventions remains unclear. TREEGut aims to elucidate how the benefits of TRE and exercise on hepatic fat and cardiometabolic health are mediated by changes in the gut microbiome, identifying specific microbial signatures and microorganisms that could inform personalized treatments. Under the supervision of Prof. Jonatan Ruiz at the University of Granada, TREEGut will integrate clinical assessments, gut microbiome analyses, and lifestyle interventions across human and mouse models, using advanced genomic technologies. A key phase of the project includes a secondment at Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC) supervised by Prof. Patrick Rensen, where specialised training on humanised mouse models for cardiometabolic diseases will explore the microbiome's causal role through human faecal transplantation in these models. This project will enhance the applicant's research capabilities and international network, fostering career development in metabolic disease and microbiome research. The findings from TREEGut will guide public health policies and clinical practices, contributing to the development of personalised, effective, and practical interventions to mitigate the impact of obesity-related diseases.

Spain

2026-01-01