We have published the results of a pilot study examining the efficacy of the traditional Karlovy Vary drinking cure in the treatment of fattyfatty liver disease (MASLD). The study was published in January 2026 in the peer-reviewed international journal *Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition*.
The study took place from February to May 2024. It involved 46 residents of Karlovy Vary diagnosed with fatty liver disease, who underwent a drinking regimen three times a day for 21 days—consuming 200–300 ml of mineral water from the Karlovy Vary springs 45 minutes before meals. The degree of steatosis was measured using a FibroScan device both before and after the regimen.
The results showed a statistically significant reduction in CAP (a measure of hepatic steatosis) by an average of approximately 30 dB/m, and a decrease in body weight of 1.3 kg. The study authors also note that this is a pilot study without a control group, and the results therefore cannot be interpreted as direct evidence of a causal relationship. Nevertheless, the study provides a foundation for follow-up clinical research, which we are currently preparing at ILaB.
Study details:
Huseynli, A., Marek, P., & Špišák, L. Pilot study on the effectiveness of the traditional Karlovy Vary thermal spring drinking cure in the treatment of metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). J Health Popul Nutr 45, 65 (2026). https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s41043-026-01241-w
