The effect of probiotic supplementation on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) fibrosis score in patients attending a tertiary hospital clinic in Cairo, Egypt
Alaa Ahmed Abd El
Hamid (1), Azza Emam Mohamed (2), Manal sabry Mohamed (2), Ghada
Essam El-Din Amin (1,3), Hagar Ahmed Ahmed Elessawy (2) and Mohamed
Farouk Allam (1*)
1 Department of Family
Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
2 Gastroenterology and
Hepatology, Internal Medicine Department, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
3 Department of
Community, Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ain
Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
*Correspondence:
Mohamed Farouk Allam (farouk.allam@med.asu.edu.eg)
Abd El Hamid et al. BMC
Gastroenterology (2024) 24:354.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12876-024-03424-3
Abstract
Background: Non-alcoholic fatty
liver disease (NAFLD) is characterized by hepatic fat accumulation (>5% of
liver tissue) in the absence of alcohol abuse or other chronic liver diseases.
NAFLD can progress to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), fibrosis, cirrhosis,
and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aimed to assess the efficacy of
probiotic (lactobacillus) supplementation on NAFLD fibrosis score. Methodology:
A double-arm randomized controlled trial was conducted in the family medicine
clinic of a tertiary hospital, enrolling patients with sonographic evidence of
NAFLD. Fifty patients were divided into two groups: the Probiotic group
received lifestyle modification instructions along with daily probiotic
supplementation for twelve weeks, with regular monthly follow-up visits. The
Standard Treatment group received low-fat diet and lifestyle modification
instructions only. Results: The mean age of participants was 46.10 years
(SD 10.11), with 70% females and 30% males. The study found a statistically
significant difference in liver enzymes (ALT and AST) and BMI in the probiotic
group before and after intervention. However, there was no significant
difference in NAFLD fibrosis score between the two groups. Conclusión:
Short-term probiotic treatment resulted in improvements in ALT, AST, and BMI in
the probiotic group, but did not significantly affect NAFLD fibrosis score.
Further research with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up periods is
warranted.
Trial registration The
clinical trial was registered at Protocol Registration and Results System with
number NCT06074094 (12/09/2021).
Keywords: Non-alcoholic fatty
liver disease, Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, Probiotics, NAFLD fibrosis score.
Abd El Hamid AA, Mohamed AE, Mohamed MS, Amin GEE, Elessawy
HAA, Allam MF. The effect of probiotic supplementation on non-alcoholic fatty
liver disease (NAFLD) fibrosis score in patients attending a tertiary hospital
clinic in Cairo, Egypt. BMC Gastroenterol. 2024 Oct 8;24(1):354. doi:
10.1186/s12876-024-03424-3. PMID: 39379797; PMCID: PMC11462796.
https://bmcgastroenterol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12876-024-03424-3
