Probiotic mixture improves fatty liver disease by virtue of its action on lipid profiles, leptin, and inflammatory biomarkers

Abstract

BackgroundA high fat diet has an essential role in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This condition is characterized by hepatic fat accumulation (steatosis) and is associated with obesity, diabetes, and fibrosis or cirrhosis of the liver. Probiotics may be useful in the treatment of steatosis. This study examined the effects of an ingested probiotic formulation on the lipid profiles, liver functions, leptin levels, and inflammatory marker levels of rats with NAFLD that had been induced via high fat and sucrose diet (HFSD).MethodsYoung male albino rats were randomly divided into three groups: a control group that was fed a standard diet; a second group that was fed a HFSD; and a third group that was given both a HFSD and ingestible probiotic mixtures. The groups were fed these diets for 16 weeks, and were then examined.ResultsHFSD-only rats showed hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, and elevated low density lipoprotein (LDL) levels, and their serum alanine transaminase (ALT) and bilirubin levels were significantly higher than those of the control group. Compared to rats on the standard diet, HFSD-only rats showed higher levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6), increased serum leptin levels, and increased resistin hormone levels in the adipose tissues. In the third group, the inclusion of the probiotic mixture seemed to ameliorate the effects of the HFSD diet. The NAFD + probiotics group showed improved lipid profiles, better leptin and resistin levels, and better TNF-α and IL-6 levels than the NAFD-only group. They also showed no signs of NAFLD.ConclusionsThe probiotic mixture showed promise as a treatment for NAFLD pathogenesis, and may improve HFSD-induced steatosis through its effects on leptin, resistin, inflammatory biomarkers, and hepatic function markers. We also established that gut microbiota-mediated regulation of lipid profiles was dependent on dietary lipids and carbohydrates.

Beneficial Effects of Lactobacillus plantarum Strains on Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in High Fat/High Fructose Diet-Fed Rats

“…Another study also showed that cocktail of probiotics (L. acidophilus, L. plantarum, Bifidobacterium, and Bacillus subtilis strains) affected host adipose tissue hormone levels such as leptin, resistin, and hepatic function markers [31]. These results provide the validity of our results, suggesting that our results will contribute to discovering ameliorative action mechanisms of probiotics against NAFLD.…”

“…In this study, treatment with two L. plantarum strains, K2 and K6, improved HF/HF diet-induced NAFLD in rats by regulating liver function, serum lipid levels, and lipogenesis via the AMPK pathway. Our literature investigation confirmed that several probiotics administered alone or in combination, have improvement effects on liver function in vivo [17,31]. L. plantarum NCU116, isolated from pickled vegetables, has indicated the effect amelioration of NAFLD by lowering the cholesterol property [17].…”

Hypocholesterolemic Effects of Probiotic Mixture on Diet-Induced Hypercholesterolemic Rats

“…A meta-analysis conducted by literature review showed that multiple-strain probiotics are more effective than a single strain in reducing NEC (necrotizing enterocolitis) and mortality in infants [30]. Probiotics mixture, which contains five strains, was effective in the treatment of NAFLD by ameliorating increased lipid profiles, liver function, and inflammatory markers [31]. …”

Gut–liver axis: Menace in the microbiota

“…In work reported in January 2017, Kamal Adel Amin and Hessah Mohammed Almuzafar at Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University in Saudi Arabia examined the effect of adding probiotic bacteria to the diet of rats 4 . The supplement prevented rats on a high-fat, high-sucrose diet from developing NAFLD, which would have occurred on the same diet without the bacteria.…”