Journal Article

Bifidobacterium longum with Fructo-Oligosaccharides in Patients with Non Alcoholic Steatohepatitis

Vacante, Marco, Acquaviva, Rosaria, Malaguarnera, Giulia, Mastrojeni, Silvana, Mistretta, Antonio, Li Volti, Giovanni, Malaguarnera, Michele, Giordano, Maria, Antic, Tijana, Galvano, Fabio, Chisari, Giuseppe

2012

Overview

Background Increased exposure to intestinal bacterial products may contribute to the pathogenesis of non alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Bifidobacteria are predominant bacterial species in the human gut microbiota and have been considered to exert a beneficial effect on human health by maintaining the equilibrium of the resident microbiota. Aims To evaluate the effects of Bifidobacterium longum with fructo-oligosaccharides (Fos) in the treatment of NASH. Methods A total of 66 patients were randomly and equally divided into two groups receiving Bifidobacterium longum with Fos and lifestyle modification (i.e., diet and exercise) versus lifestyle modification alone. The following variables were assessed at −4 (beginning of the dietary lead-in period), 0 (randomization), 6, 12, 18, and 24 weeks: aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), bilirubin, albumin, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, triglycerides, fasting plasma glucose, insulin, C-peptide, C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and serum endotoxins. Liver biopsies were performed at entry and repeated after 24 weeks of treatment. Results At the end of study period, we observed that the Bifidobacterium longum with Fos and lifestyle modification group versus the lifestyle modification alone group showed significant differences in the AST −69.6 versus −45.9 IU/mL ( P  < 0.05), LDL cholesterol −0.84 versus −0.18 mmol/L ( P  < 0.001), CRP −2.9 versus −0.7 mg/L ( P  < 0.05), TNF-α −0.45 versus −0.12 ng/mL ( P  < 0.001), HOMA-IR −1.1 versus −0.6 ( P  < 0.001), serum endotoxin −45.2 versus −30.6 pg/mL ( P  < 0.001), steatosis ( P  < 0.05), and the NASH activity index ( P  < 0.05). Conclusions Bifidobacterium longum with Fos and lifestyle modification, when compared to lifestyle modification alone, significantly reduces TNF-α, CRP, serum AST levels, HOMA-IR, serum endotoxin, steatosis, and the NASH activity index.

• Publisher: Springer US,Springer,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Adult / Aged / Alanine Transaminase - blood / Albumin / Aspartate / Aspartate Aminotransferases - blood / Bifidobacterium / Bifidobacterium longum / Bilirubin / Biochemistry / C-reactive protein / C-Reactive Protein - analysis / Diet / Exercise / Fatty Liver - blood / Fatty Liver - therapy / Female / Gastroenterology / Health aspects / Hepatology / Humans / Insulin resistance / Intestines - microbiology / Life Style / Low density lipoproteins / Male / Medicine / Medicine & Public Health / Microbiota (Symbiotic organisms) / Middle Aged / Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / Oligosaccharides - therapeutic use / Oncology / Original Article / Trans fatty acids / Transplant Surgery