Probiotics Curb Fat Accumulation in Liver of Patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Study

Eating probiotics helps get rid of fat deposits in liver, finds a study.

Dairy products containing probiotic bacteria bolster health of the digestive system and gut bacteria. A new research identified another benefit of consuming  probiotics in preventing diseases caused by liver adiposity. Experts at University of Granada used a rodent model to observe the after-effects of three probiotic strains on accumulated fat in liver. They found obese rats that received the probiotics for almost a month had drastic decrease in the amount of liver fat and triglycerides and lesser risk of developing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease than rats that were on placebo, reports the Voice of America.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease occurs in those who consume too much alcohol. The fat accumulation in liver causes chronic inflammation and scarring that leads to complete liver failure. In most people, the liver condition does not appear with any symptoms or sign of complications but is most likely to have high cholesterol levels and diabetes.

According to the data by the John Hopkins's University, nearly 10 to 20 percent of the Americans have nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases and over 2 to 5 percent of them have nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, an advanced form of fatty liver disease.

Bacteria found in lactic acid, yeast and bifido bacteria thrive in large colonies in human digestive tracts that stall growth of harmful bacteria and microorganism from invading the body' immune system. However, the study could confirm the efficacy of giving of probiotics alone in the treatment of fatty liver disease. The authors suggest probiotics can be combined with other treatment strategies in allaying the severity of liver condition.

More information is available online in the journal PLoS ONE.