Phytochemicals in MASLD : A Focused Review of Gut Microbiome‐Linked Mechanisms

Metabolic dysfunction‐associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) has emerged as a major global health burden, yet effective pharmacological options remain limited. Recent advances highlight the gut microbiome as a key modulator of liver metabolism, inflammation, and fibrosis, making it a promising therapeutic target. Among various non‐pharmacologic strategies, phytochemicals have drawn growing attention for their ability to influence the gut–liver axis through natural, multitarget mechanisms. This mini‐review summarizes preclinical and clinical evidence on phytochemicals that demonstrate metabolic benefits in MASLD, with a focus on their microbiome‐mediated effects. To this end, we classify these mechanistic pathways into three major continuums: restoration of gut microbial composition (causation), modulation of signaling mediators, i.e., gut microbial metabolites (mediation), and the resulting functional outcomes derived from these causal links (outcome). While early pre‐clinical data are encouraging, translation is challenged by issues such as mechanistic complexity, microbiome‐dependent heterogeneity, and regulatory ambiguity. Future studies incorporating multi‐omics analysis, mechanism‐linked trial designs, and stratified patient populations will be critical to advancing phytochemicals as safe, effective, and personalized interventions for MASLD.