Pro-biotic Supplements Protect against Serious Complications in Patients of Liver Disease: Study

Pro-biotic supplements protect against serious health complications in patients with liver diseases, according to a study.

Liver diseases caused by drinking too much alcohol or by Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C damage liver cells until they are unable to discard toxic material from the blood. This results in complete liver failure and no blood circulation in the liver leading to hepatic encephalopathy or altered state of consciousness and coma. Experts from the Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital in New Delhi, India, discovered that pro-biotic supplements adjust metabolic activity of gut microbiota to prevent hepatic encephalopathy or loss of brain function in patients of liver cirrhosis.

Nearly 45 percent of the liver disease patients developed hepatic encephalopathy. The morality rates of these individuals were high at 58 percent at one year and 77 percent at three years

For the study, experts observed liver cirrhosis patients who were likely to go into coma and had significant risk factors of hepatic encephalopathy. Some participants were given pro-biotic supplements and the rest were placed on a placebo. It was found that hepatic encephalopathy was less common among subjects on pro-biotic treatments than those from control group.

"By virtue of its size, study duration and design, as well as the thorough nature of the baseline and follow-up assessments, this study represents an important contribution to the hepatic encephalopathy literature," said David W. Victor III,  hepatologist in the Methodist J.C. Walter Jr. Transplant Center at Houston Methodist Hospital and who contributed an editorial on the paper in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

During the trial, none of the patients experienced negative impacts of consuming pro-biotic supplements or discontinued the treatments. The study also noted the efficacy of pro-biotic supplements is similar to that of lactulose, a non digestible sugar that is generally prescribed for indigestion and liver complications. Moreover, pro-biotic supplements are better than lactulose as they are free from side effects like diarrhea, bloating of stomach and gastric problems.  

The authors believe the findings provide basis for development of new treatments and methods to lessen the chances of hepatic encephalopathy in liver cirrhosis patients.

"These results offer a safe, well-tolerated and perhaps cheaper alternative to current treatments," added Victor.

More information is available online in the journal Clinical Gatroenterology and Hepatology.