title: Bifidobacterium longum with fructo-oligosaccharides in patients with non alcoholic steatohepatitis.
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.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  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.
authors: Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Catania, Viale Andrea Doria, 6, 95125, Catania, Italy. m.malaguarnera@email.it
authors: Michele
authors: M
authors: Malaguarnera
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Vacante
authors: Tijana
authors: T
authors: Antic
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Giordano
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Chisari
authors: Rosaria
authors: R
authors: Acquaviva
authors: Silvana
authors: S
authors: Mastrojeni
authors: Giulia
authors: G
authors: Malaguarnera
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Mistretta
authors: Giovanni
authors: G
authors: Li Volti
authors: Fabio
authors: F
authors: Galvano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001644:Bifidobacterium; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D009844:Oligosaccharides; C116580:fructooligosaccharide; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase