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Protective effect of probiotics in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Cai, GS, Su, H, Zhang, J
Medicine. 2020;99(32):e21464
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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 (Pā>ā.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 (Pā<ā.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.
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Association between muscle strength and type 2 diabetes mellitus in adults in Korea: Data from the Korea national health and nutrition examination survey (KNHANES) VI.
Lee, MR, Jung, SM, Bang, H, Kim, HS, Kim, YB
Medicine. 2018;97(23):e10984
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The incidence of type 2 diabetes is increasing worldwide. This study aimed to identify the association between muscle strength and type 2 diabetes in Korean adults. The researchers measured handgrip strength along with markers of glucose sensitivity, insulin sensitivity and inflammation in each of the participants. People with type 2 diabetes and those with insulin resistance had a significantly lower handgrip strength than those without type 2 diabetes or insulin resistance. The authors concluded that further studies should be carried out to determine whether improving muscle strength might help to prevent type 2 diabetes.
Abstract
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a significant chronic disease, and health burden from DM is increasing. Recently, studies on the relationship between handgrip strength, which is a measuring tool for muscle strength, and type 2 DM were published. However, the results have been conflicting. In addition, few studies that used data from adults in Korea have been conducted. Thus, this study aimed to identify the association between handgrip strength as well as type 2 DM and insulin resistance in adults using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2014 to 2015. Inflammation is a condition affecting the muscle strength of individuals with type 2 DM; therefore, its mediating effects were also examined.We included 8208 participants aged between 19 and 80 years who had undergone a handgrip test and had received information about type 2 DM. General linear and binary logistic regression models were used to examine the association between handgrip strength and type 2 DM variables. In addition, mediation analysis was conducted to estimate the role of inflammation in the relationship between handgrip strength and type 2 DM.After adjusting for age, sex, education, alcohol consumption, lifetime smoking, obesity, and aerobic physical activity, handgrip strength was inversely associated with fasting glucose, HbA1c, and fasting insulin levels as well as the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) score. Multivariable logistic regression analyses showed that handgrip strength was significantly inversely associated with type 2 DM and insulin resistance. The high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), an inflammation-related biomarker, mediated approximately 10% of the association between handgrip strength and type 2 DM.Using large, well-defined, nationally representative cross-sectional data on adults in Korea, we found that handgrip strength, which is an indicator of muscle strength, was associated with type 2 DM.