BACKGROUND: Preclinical evidence suggests that modulation of the gut microbiome could represent a new therapeutic target in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the most current evidence for liver-specific and metabolic effects of microbiome-targeted therapies (MTTs) in persons with NAFLD. METHODS: We searched multiple electronic databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published from January 1, 2005 to December 1, 2018 that enrolled persons with NAFLD who received MTT rather than placebo or usual care. MTT was defined as antibiotics, probiotics, synbiotics, or fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). Clinical outcomes were pooled with the use of random-effects models and heterogeneity was assessed with the I2 statistic. A random-effects meta-regression was performed to determine sources of heterogeneity in prevalence estimates between studies. RESULTS: Twenty-one RCTs (1252 participants) were included; 9 evaluated probiotics and 12 evaluated synbiotics, with treatment duration ranging from 8 to 28 wk. No RCTs examined the efficacy of antibiotics or FMT. Probiotics/synbiotics were associated with a significant reduction in alanine aminotransferase activity [ALT, weighted mean difference (WMD): -11.23 IU/L; 95% CI: -15.02, -7.44 IU/L] and liver stiffness measurement (LSM) by elastography (reflecting inflammation and fibrosis) (WMD: -0.70 kPa; 95% CI: -1.00, -0.40 kPa), although analyses showed heterogeneity (I2 = 90.6% and I2 = 93.4%, respectively). Probiotics/synbiotics were also associated with increased odds of improvement in hepatic steatosis, as graded by ultrasound (OR: 2.40; 95% CI: 1.50, 3.84; I2 = 22.4%). No RCTs examined sequential liver biopsy findings. Probiotics (WMD: -1.84; 95% CI: -3.30, -0.38; I2 = 23.6%), but not synbiotics (WMD: -0.85; 95% CI: -2.17, 0.47; I2 = 96.6%), were associated with a significant reduction in body mass index. CONCLUSIONS: The use of probiotics/synbiotics was associated with improvement in liver-specific markers of hepatic inflammation, LSM, and steatosis in persons with NAFLD. Although promising, given the heterogeneity in pooled analyses, additional well-designed RCTs are needed to define the efficacy of probiotics/synbiotics for treatment of NAFLD. This study was registered with PROSPERO as CRD42018091455.
BACKGROUND: Preclinical evidence suggests that modulation of the gut microbiome could represent a new therapeutic target in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the most current evidence for liver-specific and metabolic effects of microbiome-targeted therapies (MTTs) in persons with NAFLD. METHODS: We searched multiple electronic databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published from January 1, 2005 to December 1, 2018 that enrolled persons with NAFLD who received MTT rather than placebo or usual care. MTT was defined as antibiotics, probiotics, synbiotics, or fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). Clinical outcomes were pooled with the use of random-effects models and heterogeneity was assessed with the I2 statistic. A random-effects meta-regression was performed to determine sources of heterogeneity in prevalence estimates between studies. RESULTS: Twenty-one RCTs (1252 participants) were included; 9 evaluated probiotics and 12 evaluated synbiotics, with treatment duration ranging from 8 to 28 wk. No RCTs examined the efficacy of antibiotics or FMT. Probiotics/synbiotics were associated with a significant reduction in alanine aminotransferase activity [ALT, weighted mean difference (WMD): -11.23 IU/L; 95% CI: -15.02, -7.44 IU/L] and liver stiffness measurement (LSM) by elastography (reflecting inflammation and fibrosis) (WMD: -0.70 kPa; 95% CI: -1.00, -0.40 kPa), although analyses showed heterogeneity (I2 = 90.6% and I2 = 93.4%, respectively). Probiotics/synbiotics were also associated with increased odds of improvement in hepatic steatosis, as graded by ultrasound (OR: 2.40; 95% CI: 1.50, 3.84; I2 = 22.4%). No RCTs examined sequential liver biopsy findings. Probiotics (WMD: -1.84; 95% CI: -3.30, -0.38; I2 = 23.6%), but not synbiotics (WMD: -0.85; 95% CI: -2.17, 0.47; I2 = 96.6%), were associated with a significant reduction in body mass index. CONCLUSIONS: The use of probiotics/synbiotics was associated with improvement in liver-specific markers of hepatic inflammation, LSM, and steatosis in persons with NAFLD. Although promising, given the heterogeneity in pooled analyses, additional well-designed RCTs are needed to define the efficacy of probiotics/synbiotics for treatment of NAFLD. This study was registered with PROSPERO as CRD42018091455.
Authors: Anne Vrieze; Els Van Nood; Frits Holleman; Jarkko Salojärvi; Ruud S Kootte; Joep F W M Bartelsman; Geesje M Dallinga-Thie; Mariette T Ackermans; Mireille J Serlie; Raish Oozeer; Muriel Derrien; Anne Druesne; Johan E T Van Hylckama Vlieg; Vincent W Bloks; Albert K Groen; Hans G H J Heilig; Erwin G Zoetendal; Erik S Stroes; Willem M de Vos; Joost B L Hoekstra; Max Nieuwdorp Journal: Gastroenterology Date: 2012-06-20 Impact factor: 22.682
Authors: Ruud S Kootte; Evgeni Levin; Jarkko Salojärvi; Loek P Smits; Annick V Hartstra; Shanti D Udayappan; Gerben Hermes; Kristien E Bouter; Annefleur M Koopen; Jens J Holst; Filip K Knop; Ellen E Blaak; Jing Zhao; Hauke Smidt; Amy C Harms; Thomas Hankemeijer; Jacques J G H M Bergman; Hans A Romijn; Frank G Schaap; Steven W M Olde Damink; Mariette T Ackermans; Geesje M Dallinga-Thie; Erwin Zoetendal; Willem M de Vos; Mireille J Serlie; Erik S G Stroes; Albert K Groen; Max Nieuwdorp Journal: Cell Metab Date: 2017-10-03 Impact factor: 27.287
Authors: Sonia Michail; Malinda Lin; Mark R Frey; Rob Fanter; Oleg Paliy; Brian Hilbush; Nicholas V Reo Journal: FEMS Microbiol Ecol Date: 2014-12-05 Impact factor: 4.519
Authors: Stephan C Bischoff; Rocco Barazzoni; Luca Busetto; Marjo Campmans-Kuijpers; Vincenzo Cardinale; Irit Chermesh; Ahad Eshraghian; Haluk Tarik Kani; Wafaa Khannoussi; Laurence Lacaze; Miguel Léon-Sanz; Juan M Mendive; Michael W Müller; Johann Ockenga; Frank Tacke; Anders Thorell; Darija Vranesic Bender; Arved Weimann; Cristina Cuerda Journal: United European Gastroenterol J Date: 2022-08-12 Impact factor: 6.866
Authors: Tomas Hrncir; Lucia Hrncirova; Miloslav Kverka; Robert Hromadka; Vladimira Machova; Eva Trckova; Klara Kostovcikova; Pavlina Kralickova; Jan Krejsek; Helena Tlaskalova-Hogenova Journal: Microorganisms Date: 2021-04-29