Virta Health’s Nutrition-Based Metabolic Care Dramatically Reduces Risk of Serious Liver Disease

Virta Health’s Nutrition-Based Metabolic Care Dramatically Reduces Risk of Serious Liver Disease

Landmark study in Hepatology finds Virta’s individualized nutrition therapy associated with 45% to 75% lower rates of MASH, advanced liver disease, and liver complications

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DENVER, CO., [DATE] — Virta Health, the leader in reversing metabolic disease, announced today a new peer-reviewed study published in Hepatology, the leading journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, demonstrating that their medically supervised, individualized nutrition therapy is associated with lower risk of developing serious liver disease, including metabolic dysfunction–associated steatohepatitis (MASH, an inflammatory condition), advanced liver disease, and advanced liver complications. Virta’s patients had significantly lower risk of MASH and advanced liver disease, including liver complications, by 45% to 75%.

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An estimated one-third of U.S. adults, or roughly 86 million people, are living with metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), including approximately 15 million with MASH, with prevalence rising even higher among people with type 2 diabetes or obesity, where up to 70 percent are affected. A significant subset will progress to advanced liver disease, including cirrhosis, liver failure, or liver cancer, driving substantial morbidity and mortality. 

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Together, MASLD, MASH, and advanced liver disease cost the U.S. healthcare system more than $100 billion per year, with added healthcare costs per person ranging from roughly $16,000 to more than $300,000 annually, depending on disease severity. Despite the scale and growing burden, current treatment options remain limited and expensive, underscoring the urgent need for more accessible, scalable approaches that address the underlying metabolic drivers of liver disease and help prevent progression.

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In one of the largest real-world analyses of its kind, researchers found that individuals receiving Virta’s individualized, nutrition-focused remote care experienced markedly lower rates of new-onset or progression towards MASH and advanced liver outcomes such as cirrhosis and portal hypertension, compared with matched patients receiving usual care. The findings establish Virta’s nutrition-based metabolic intervention as a credible, scalable approach to preventing liver disease progression, not simply managing it after the fact.

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“These results show that nutrition-driven metabolic care can meaningfully change the trajectory of liver disease in high-risk populations,” said Adam Wolfberg, M.D., Chief Medical Officer at Virta Health and a co-author of the study. “What makes this especially important is that we are seeing fewer real clinical events, not just improvements in lab values. This is about preventing progression to advanced liver disease by treating the metabolic root cause.”

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The study analyzed health claims data from more than 10,000 matched adults across the United States and applied multiple analytic strategies to assess the incidence of liver-related events over time. Across all approaches, participation in Virta’s program was consistently associated with substantially lower risk of liver disease and complications, with the strongest protective effects seen among individuals who achieved meaningful, sustained weight loss.

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“This study proves that lifestyle modifications, especially when they result in weight loss, significantly decrease the likelihood of liver complications. It is the first large human study demonstrating that the empiric wisdom, that nutrition is crucial to healthy outcomes, is backed by facts,” said Maurizio Bonacini, M.D., Fellow of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, American Gastroenterological Association Fellow, and senior author of the study. 

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The Hepatology findings highlight the role of nutrition-based metabolic care as a practical, accessible foundation for how MASH care may evolve. The study demonstrated lower rates of FDA-relevant liver endpoints in real-world practice, independent of medication use, reinforcing the importance of addressing metabolic health itself to prevent disease progression.

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“Current treatment options for MASH are limited and expensive, leaving far too many patients without viable care,” said Sami Inkinen, co-founder and CEO of Virta Health. “These findings reinforce the need for more accessible, affordable therapies that address the metabolic root cause of liver disease. Virta’s nutrition-based metabolic care can play a foundational role, complementing medications while helping prevent disease progression and deliver durable outcomes at scale.”

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The findings build on Virta’s growing clinical and real-world evidence base across type 2 diabetes, obesity, and other metabolic disease, and further establish nutrition-driven metabolic intervention as a viable, scalable, and more affordable approach to addressing serious chronic disease at its source.

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About Virta Health

Virta Health is the leader in reversing metabolic disease. Through their AI-powered individualized nutrition therapy, Virta combines the best of human care with the speed and precision of technology to empower members to build longer, healthier lives, while reducing or eliminating the need for medications. Virta partners with the nation’s largest employers, payers, and pharmacy benefit managers to improve the health of their members while reducing costs. Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, Virta is on a bold mission to reverse metabolic disease in one billion people. For more information, visit www.virtahealth.com.

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The full study, “Reduced Risk of Liver-Related Events Among Patients Receiving Individualized Nutrition-Focused Remote Care in the United States,” can be accessed at Hepatology: https://journals.lww.com/hep/fulltext/9900/reduced_risk_of_liver_related_events_among.1578.aspx

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Athinarayanan, Shaminie J.1; Wolfberg, Adam J.1; Shanmugam, Priya V.1; Hameed, Bilal A.2; Bonacini, Maurizio3. Reduced risk of liver-related events among patients receiving individualized nutrition-focused remote care in the United States. Hepatology ():10.1097/HEP.0000000000001713, March 17, 2026. | DOI: 10.1097/HEP.0000000000001713

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