Microbiota modulation by dietary Beta-glucan prevents Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease progression
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NALFLD)-associated changes in gut microbiota are important drivers of disease progression toward fibrosis. Therefore, reversing microbiota alterations could ameliorate NAFLD progression. Oat beta-glucan, a dietary supplement, has shown promising therapeutic effects on hyperlipidemia associated with NAFLD, but its impact on gut microbiota and most importantly NAFLD fibrosis remains unknown.   Our findings identify oat beta-glucan as a highly efficacious food supplement that dampens inflammation and fibrosis development in diet-induced NAFLD. These results, along with its favorable dietary profile, suggest that it may be a cost-effective and well-tolerated approach of preventing NAFLD progression, and should be assessed in clinical studies.