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Open AccessArticle
Multimodal Nutraceutical and Psychological Intervention for GGT Reduction in Individuals with Alcohol Use Disorder
by
Nilca Stefania Diana
Nilca Stefania Diana 1,*
,
Tarcea Monica
Tarcea Monica 2
and
Gliga Florina
Gliga Florina 3
1
Doctoral School, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology of Targu Mures, 540142 Târgu Mureș, Romania
2
Department of Community Nutrition and Food Safety, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology of Targu Mures, 540142 Târgu Mureș, Romania
3
Department of Physiopathology, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology of Targu Mures, 540142 Târgu Mureș, Romania
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Nutrients 2026, 18(11), 1676; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18111676 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 18 February 2026
/
Revised: 16 May 2026
/
Accepted: 22 May 2026
/
Published: 23 May 2026
Abstract
Background: Elevated gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) is a biomarker associated with alcohol-related hepatic stress and oxidative imbalance. Although alcohol abstinence is the primary determinant of GGT normalization, adjunctive strategies may support biochemical improvement in real-world settings. Methods: This non-randomized cohort study included 197 of 1957 screened participants (10.1%), stratified according to baseline GGT into 55–99 U/L (n = 95) and ≥100 U/L (n = 102). Participants in the higher baseline subgroup underwent a multimodal intervention consisting of nutraceutical supplementation (silymarin, essential phospholipids, and a polyherbal antioxidant formulation) combined with structured psychological support aimed at promoting alcohol abstinence. The primary outcome was the change in GGT between baseline (T1) and follow-up (T2). Secondary outcomes included the proportion of participants achieving GGT reduction and the magnitude of change according to baseline severity. Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT07603726. Results: Among participants with baseline GGT ≥ 100 U/L, GGT levels decreased from a median of 133.73 to 97.41 U/L (p < 0.001), whereas in the 55–99 U/L subgroup, median GGT changed from 67.49 to 66.51 U/L without reaching statistical significance (p = 0.072). Participants in the higher baseline subgroup demonstrated greater GGT reductions (median ΔGGT: −35.25 vs. −2.58 U/L), a higher proportion achieving GGT reduction (91.2% vs. 70.5%), and higher odds of GGT reduction at follow-up in exploratory analysis (OR = 4.32, 95% CI: 1.91–9.75). Conclusions: In this real-world cohort, reductions in GGT levels were observed, particularly among individuals with elevated baseline values (≥100 U/L) who underwent the multimodal intervention. These findings support monitoring GGT dynamics in routine clinical practice, where GGT remains a practical and accessible biomarker due to its widespread availability, low cost, and sensitivity to oxidative and alcohol-related hepatic stress.
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MDPI and ACS Style
Diana, N.S.; Monica, T.; Florina, G.
Multimodal Nutraceutical and Psychological Intervention for GGT Reduction in Individuals with Alcohol Use Disorder. Nutrients 2026, 18, 1676.
https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18111676
AMA Style
Diana NS, Monica T, Florina G.
Multimodal Nutraceutical and Psychological Intervention for GGT Reduction in Individuals with Alcohol Use Disorder. Nutrients. 2026; 18(11):1676.
https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18111676
Chicago/Turabian Style
Diana, Nilca Stefania, Tarcea Monica, and Gliga Florina.
2026. "Multimodal Nutraceutical and Psychological Intervention for GGT Reduction in Individuals with Alcohol Use Disorder" Nutrients 18, no. 11: 1676.
https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18111676
APA Style
Diana, N. S., Monica, T., & Florina, G.
(2026). Multimodal Nutraceutical and Psychological Intervention for GGT Reduction in Individuals with Alcohol Use Disorder. Nutrients, 18(11), 1676.
https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18111676
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