Probiotics and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Unveiling the Mechanisms of Lactobacillus plantarum and Bifidobacterium bifidum in Modulating Lipid Metabolism, Inflammation, and Intestinal Barrier Integrity.

2024-09-21
Foods (Basel, Switzerland) 13(18)
- Jing Lu
- Dilireba Shataer
- Huizhen Yan
- Xiaoxiao Dong
- Minwei Zhang
- Yanan Qin
- Jie Cui
- Liang Wang

PubMed: 39335920
DOI: 10.3390/foods13182992

Study Design

Type: Review
Methods: This review explores the intricate relationship between the intestinal microbiome and the pathogenesis of NAFLD, emphasizing the substantial roles played by Lactobacillus plantarum and Bifidobacterium bifidum.

In recent years, the prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has risen annually, yet due to the intricacies of its pathogenesis and therapeutic challenges, there remains no definitive medication for this condition. This review explores the intricate relationship between the intestinal microbiome and the pathogenesis of NAFLD, emphasizing the substantial roles played by Lactobacillus plantarum and Bifidobacterium bifidum. These probiotics manipulate lipid synthesis genes and phosphorylated proteins through pathways such as the AMPK/Nrf2, LPS-TLR4-NF-κB, AMPKα/PGC-1α, SREBP-1/FAS, and SREBP-1/ACC signaling pathways to reduce hepatic lipid accumulation and oxidative stress, key components of NAFLD progression. By modifying the intestinal microbial composition and abundance, they combat the overgrowth of harmful bacteria, alleviating the inflammatory response precipitated by dysbiosis and bolstering the intestinal mucosal barrier. Furthermore, they participate in cellular immune regulation, including CD4⁺ T cells and Treg cells, to suppress systemic inflammation. L. plantarum and B. bifidum also modulate lipid metabolism and immune reactions by adjusting gut metabolites, including propionic and butyric acids, which inhibit liver inflammation and fat deposition. The capacity of probiotics to modulate lipid metabolism, immune responses, and gut microbiota presents an innovative therapeutic strategy. With a global increase in NAFLD prevalence, these insights propose a promising natural method to decelerate disease progression, avert liver damage, and tackle associated metabolic issues, significantly advancing microbiome-focused treatments for NAFLD.

Research Insights

Bifidobacterium longum SD-5588→Improved Intestinal Barrier Function
...bolstering the intestinal mucosal barrier.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Bifidobacterium longum SD-5588→Improved Lipid Metabolism
L. plantarum and B. bifidum also modulate lipid metabolism and immune reactions by adjusting gut metabolites, including propionic and butyric acids, which inhibit liver inflammation and fat deposition.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Bifidobacterium longum SD-5588→Modulated Immune Response
Furthermore, they participate in cellular immune regulation, including CD4+ T cells and Treg cells, to suppress systemic inflammation.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Bifidobacterium longum SD-5588→Reduced Hepatic Lipid Accumulation
These probiotics manipulate lipid synthesis genes and phosphorylated proteins through pathways such as the AMPK/Nrf2, LPS-TLR4-NF-κB, AMPKα/PGC-1α, SREBP-1/FAS, and SREBP-1/ACC signaling pathways to reduce hepatic lipid accumulation and oxidative stress, key components of NAFLD progression.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Bifidobacterium longum SD-5588→Reduced Inflammation
By modifying the intestinal microbial composition and abundance, they combat the overgrowth of harmful bacteria, alleviating the inflammatory response precipitated by dysbiosis and bolstering the intestinal mucosal barrier.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Bifidobacterium longum SD-5588→Reduced Oxidative Stress
...to reduce hepatic lipid accumulation and oxidative stress, key components of NAFLD progression.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate