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New Research Links Sugar Metabolism to Alcohol Addiction

11/10/2025

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Summary

Story summary

University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus researchers link sugar metabolism to alcohol addiction, signaling treatments for alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD).
The study, published in Nature Metabolism, shows alcohol activates a metabolic pathway that yields fructose via ketohexokinase (KHK).
Blocking ketohexokinase (KHK) in mice reduced alcohol consumption and liver damage.
This work suggests targeting fructose metabolism could provide a dual approach to treating addiction and liver disease.

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Story summary

University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus researchers link sugar metabolism to alcohol addiction, signaling treatments for alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD).
The study, published in Nature Metabolism, shows alcohol activates a metabolic pathway that yields fructose via ketohexokinase (KHK).
Blocking ketohexokinase (KHK) in mice reduced alcohol consumption and liver damage.
This work suggests targeting fructose metabolism could provide a dual approach to treating addiction and liver disease.