Impact of Synbiotic Intake on Liver Metabolism in Metabolically Healthy Participants and Its Potential Preventive Effect on Metabolic-Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD): A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blinded Clinical Trial

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  • Aakash Mantri
  • Anika Köhlmoos
  • Daniela Stephanie Schelski
  • Waldemar Seel
  • Birgit Stoffel-Wagner
  • Peter Krawitz
  • Peter Stehle
  • Holst, Jens Juul
  • Bernd Weber
  • Leonie Koban
  • Hilke Plassmann
  • Marie Christine Simon

Synbiotics modulate the gut microbiome and contribute to the prevention of liver diseases such as metabolic-dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded seven-week intervention trial on the liver metabolism in 117 metabolically healthy male participants. Anthropometric data, blood parameters, and stool samples were analyzed using linear mixed models. After seven weeks of intervention, there was a significant reduction in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in the synbiotic group compared to the placebo group (-14.92%, CI: -26.60--3.23%, p = 0.013). A stratified analysis according to body fat percentage revealed a significant decrease in ALT (-20.70%, CI: -40.88--0.53%, p = 0.045) in participants with an elevated body fat percentage. Further, a significant change in microbiome composition (1.16, CI: 0.06-2.25, p = 0.039) in this group was found, while the microbial composition remained stable upon intervention in the group with physiological body fat. The 7-week synbiotic intervention reduced ALT levels, especially in participants with an elevated body fat percentage, possibly due to modulation of the gut microbiome. Synbiotic intake may be helpful in delaying the progression of MAFLD and could be used in addition to the recommended lifestyle modification therapy.

Original languageEnglish
Article number1300
JournalNutrients
Volume16
Issue number9
Number of pages14
ISSN2072-6643
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2024

    Research areas

  • ALT, gut–liver axis, MAFLD, metabolic healthy participant, microbiome, prevention, randomized controlled trial, synbiotics

ID: 392987041