Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis: The Effects of Probiotics in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Background and Aims. Probiotics was considered as a potential therapy for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) without approval and comprehensive assessment in recent years, which call for a meta-analysis. Methods. We performed electronic and manual searches including English and Chinese databas...

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Main Authors: Meng-Wei Xiao, Shi-Xin Lin, Zhao-Hua Shen, Wei-Wei Luo, Xiao-Yan Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2019-01-01
Series:Gastroenterology Research and Practice
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/1484598
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author Meng-Wei Xiao
Shi-Xin Lin
Zhao-Hua Shen
Wei-Wei Luo
Xiao-Yan Wang
author_facet Meng-Wei Xiao
Shi-Xin Lin
Zhao-Hua Shen
Wei-Wei Luo
Xiao-Yan Wang
author_sort Meng-Wei Xiao
collection DOAJ
description Background and Aims. Probiotics was considered as a potential therapy for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) without approval and comprehensive assessment in recent years, which call for a meta-analysis. Methods. We performed electronic and manual searches including English and Chinese databases published before April 2019, with the use of mesh term and free text of “nonalcoholic fatty liver disease” and “probiotics.” Clinical trials evaluating the efficacy of probiotic therapy in NAFLD patients were included according to the eligibility criteria. With the use of random effects models, clinical outcomes were presented as weighted mean difference (WMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI), while heterogeneity and meta-regression were also assessed. Results. 28 clinical trials enrolling 1555 criterion proven NAFLD patients with the use of probiotics from 4 to 28 weeks were included. Overall, probiotic therapy had beneficial effects on body mass index (WMD: -1.46, 95% CI: [-2.44, -0.48]), alanine aminotransferase (WMD: -13.40, 95% CI: [-17.03, -9.77]), aspartate transaminase (WMD: -13.54, 95% CI: [-17.86, -9.22]), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (WMD: -9.88, 95% CI: [-17.77, -1.99]), insulin (WMD: -1.32, 95% CI: [-2.43, -0.21]), homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (WMD: -0.42, 95% CI: [-0.73, -0.12]), and total cholesterol (WMD: -15.38, 95% CI: [-26.50, -4.25]), but not in fasting blood sugar, lipid profiles, or tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Conclusion. The systematic review and meta-analysis support that probiotics are superior to placebo in NAFLD patients and could be utilized as a common complementary therapeutic approach.
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spelling doaj-art-0df6bc99ff17481a9e5cf61080f70f6a2025-08-20T02:02:38ZengWileyGastroenterology Research and Practice1687-61211687-630X2019-01-01201910.1155/2019/14845981484598Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis: The Effects of Probiotics in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver DiseaseMeng-Wei Xiao0Shi-Xin Lin1Zhao-Hua Shen2Wei-Wei Luo3Xiao-Yan Wang4Department of Gastroenterology, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410013, ChinaDepartment of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Third Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330000, ChinaDepartment of Gastroenterology, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410013, ChinaDepartment of Gastroenterology, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410013, ChinaDepartment of Gastroenterology, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410013, ChinaBackground and Aims. Probiotics was considered as a potential therapy for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) without approval and comprehensive assessment in recent years, which call for a meta-analysis. Methods. We performed electronic and manual searches including English and Chinese databases published before April 2019, with the use of mesh term and free text of “nonalcoholic fatty liver disease” and “probiotics.” Clinical trials evaluating the efficacy of probiotic therapy in NAFLD patients were included according to the eligibility criteria. With the use of random effects models, clinical outcomes were presented as weighted mean difference (WMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI), while heterogeneity and meta-regression were also assessed. Results. 28 clinical trials enrolling 1555 criterion proven NAFLD patients with the use of probiotics from 4 to 28 weeks were included. Overall, probiotic therapy had beneficial effects on body mass index (WMD: -1.46, 95% CI: [-2.44, -0.48]), alanine aminotransferase (WMD: -13.40, 95% CI: [-17.03, -9.77]), aspartate transaminase (WMD: -13.54, 95% CI: [-17.86, -9.22]), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (WMD: -9.88, 95% CI: [-17.77, -1.99]), insulin (WMD: -1.32, 95% CI: [-2.43, -0.21]), homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (WMD: -0.42, 95% CI: [-0.73, -0.12]), and total cholesterol (WMD: -15.38, 95% CI: [-26.50, -4.25]), but not in fasting blood sugar, lipid profiles, or tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Conclusion. The systematic review and meta-analysis support that probiotics are superior to placebo in NAFLD patients and could be utilized as a common complementary therapeutic approach.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/1484598
spellingShingle Meng-Wei Xiao
Shi-Xin Lin
Zhao-Hua Shen
Wei-Wei Luo
Xiao-Yan Wang
Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis: The Effects of Probiotics in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Gastroenterology Research and Practice
title Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis: The Effects of Probiotics in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
title_full Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis: The Effects of Probiotics in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
title_fullStr Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis: The Effects of Probiotics in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
title_full_unstemmed Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis: The Effects of Probiotics in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
title_short Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis: The Effects of Probiotics in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
title_sort systematic review with meta analysis the effects of probiotics in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/1484598
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