Recent insights into the hepatoprotective effects of lactic acid bacteria in alcoholic liver disease

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are commonly used probiotic and generally regarded as food-grade safe (GRAS). With the study of the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease (ALD), LAB is considered to be a potential way to prevent and remiss ALD. This article summarized the pathogenesis of ALD, discussed current knowledge regarding the main effects and mechanisms of LAB in protection against ALD protection to provide a theoretical basis for future research. Through its own properties and various biochemical reactions, LAB mainly protect liver health by restoring alcohol-induced imbalances in gut microbiota and increasing intestinal permeability, these can lead to the reduce lipopolysaccharide levels reaching the liver and alleviating liver inflammation directly. While LAB can decrease the oxidative stress in the body and the accumulation of liver fat, promote the absorption of nutrients, and protect gastric mucosa, which also has excellent protection against ALD. Treating ALD using LAB has good effect and fewer side effects than other available therapies. •The metabolic pathway of ethanol in humans is summarized.•The mechanism by which ethanol damages the liver is discussed.•The main effects and mechanisms of LAB in protection against ALD are reviewed.•The strategies using LAB to protect against ALD are introduced.•Promising future research trends of ALD are proposed.