Probiotics as a complementary therapeutic approach innonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease （NAFLD） is currentlyrecognized as one of the most common causes ofchronic liver disease. It involves a spectrum of conditionsthat include pure steatosis without inflammation,steatohepatitis, fibrosis and cirrhosis. The key factorin the pathophysiology of NAFLD is insulin resistancethat determines lipid accumulation in the hepatocytesand, thus, oxidative stress, which is followed byinflammatory response. However, NAFLD pathogenesisis still largely unknown and has been extensivelyinvestigated. Although life style modification with theaim of losing weight has been advocated to treat thisdisorder, its effectiveness is limited; additionally, thereis no specific pharmacologic treatment until nowadays.Recent evidence suggests that the gut microbiota mayplay a role in the development of insulin resistance,hepatic steatosis, necroinflammation and fibrosis.Differences in gut microbiota between NAFLD patientsand lean individuals as well as presence of smallintestinal bacterial overgrowth in NAFLD subjects havebeen demonstrated. Furthermore, some data indicatethat the immunoregulatory effects of probiotics maybe beneficial in NAFLD treatment as they modulatethe intestinal microbiota; improve epithelial barrierfunction and strengthen the intestinal wall decreasingits permeability; reduce bacterial translocation andendotoxemia; improve intestinal inflammation; andreduce oxidative and inflammatory liver damage. Inthis article, we review the clinical trials on the useof probiotics in the treatment of NAFLD and discussthe effects of these agents and their efficacy as anemerging therapeutic resource to treat NAFLD patients.