23 May 2017 --- Intestinal fungi may contribute to the development of alcoholic liver disease (ALD), a new study funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) has suggested. US researchers demonstrated that oral antifungal treatment protects mice from alcohol-related liver disease progression. In separate components of the study conducted in humans, the researchers linked intestinal fungi to ALD and increased risk of death for people with ALD.