Hy publishes probiotic HY7804 liver-damage research in international journal

Hy announced Wednesday that it has published a research paper on the alcohol-induced liver damage effects of its proprietary probiotic HY7804 (Lactobacillus helveticus HY7804) in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences (IJMS).

Researchers confirmed HY7804's potential to alleviate alcohol-induced liver damage through cell and animal experiments. In cell experiments, groups treated with HY7804 showed reduced alcohol-related declines in cell viability, and markers of cellular damage also improved.

In animal experiments, blood levels of the liver damage markers AST and ALT were significantly lower in the HY7804-administered group than in the alcohol-consuming group that received no treatment. Fat accumulation in liver tissue decreased, and oxidative tissue damage was also reduced. Key inflammation-related markers elevated by alcohol exposure consistently declined across both cell and animal experiments. Hy said it plans to conduct further human clinical trials to validate the probiotic's functional benefits.

Kim Ju-yeon, head of hy's new materials development team, said the company has been building the research foundation needed for ingredient development by verifying the characteristics of individual strains under various conditions. "Through follow-up research, we will closely examine HY7804's mechanisms of action and work to define its potential as a liver health ingredient," she said.

Meanwhile, hy confirmed in 2023 that HY7804 showed potential for improving markers related to liver fat accumulation and liver damage in an animal model of metabolic fatty liver disease. In 2025, the company conducted research on the gut-liver axis, examining the link between the intestinal environment and liver health.