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

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Abstract

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.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by a grant from the Regional Health Department for Sicily (Ric. Fin. 2007).

Conflict of interest

None of the authors had any relevant personal or financial conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Senescence, Urological and Neurological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy

    Marco Vacante, Tijana Antic & Maria Giordano

  2. Institute of Microbiology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy

    Giuseppe Chisari, Silvana Mastrojeni & Giulia Malaguarnera

  3. Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Catania, Viale Andrea Doria, 6, 95125, Catania, Italy

    Michele Malaguarnera, Rosaria Acquaviva, Giovanni Li Volti & Fabio Galvano

  4. Department of Hygiene and Public Health, University of Catania, Catania, Italy

    Antonio Mistretta

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  1. Michele Malaguarnera
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Correspondence to Michele Malaguarnera.

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Malaguarnera, M., Vacante, M., Antic, T. et al. Bifidobacterium longum with Fructo-Oligosaccharides in Patients with Non Alcoholic Steatohepatitis. Dig Dis Sci 57, 545–553 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-011-1887-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-011-1887-4

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