Plain language summary
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is common in people with obesity and is characterised by high amounts of fat stored in the liver. Diet and exercise are the standard treatments, however recent studies have indicated that the gut microbiota may have an important role. This randomised control trial of 140 patients with NAFLD, aimed to assess the effect of probiotics when added to standard therapy for 3 months. The results showed that although gut microbiota, some aspects of liver function, blood lipids and blood sugars were all improved in individuals on standard therapy, there were additional improvements in those on standard therapy plus probiotics. It was concluded that although standard therapy alone is adequate to improve NAFLD, probiotics plus standard therapy was superior to standard therapy alone and effective in treatment of NAFLD. This study could be used by health professionals to justify the addition of probiotics to standard therapy to further improve NAFLD outcomes.
Abstract
To investigate the effects of probiotics on liver function, glucose and lipids metabolism, and hepatic fatty deposition in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).Totally 140 NAFLD cases diagnosed in our hospital from March 2017 to March 2019 were randomly divided into the observation group and control group, 70 cases in each. The control group received the diet and exercise therapy, while the observation group received oral probiotics based on the control group, and the intervention in 2 groups lasted for 3 months. The indexes of liver function, glucose and lipids metabolism, NAFLD activity score (NAS), and conditions of fecal flora in 2 groups were compared before and after the treatment.Before the treatment, there were no significant differences on alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), glutamine transferase (GGT), total bilirubin (TBIL), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), NAFLD activity score (NAS), and conditions of fecal flora in 2 groups (P > .05). After the treatment, ALT, AST, GGT, TC, TG, HOMA-IR, NAS, and conditions of fecal flora in the observation group were better than those in the control group, and the observation group was better after treatment than before. All these above differences were statistically significant (P < .05).Probiotics can improve some liver functions, glucose and lipids metabolism, hepatic fatty deposition in patients with NAFLD, which will enhance the therapeutic effects of NAFLD.
Methodological quality
Jadad score
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2
Allocation concealment
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No
