Therapeutic potential of Lactobacillus casei and Chlorella vulgaris in high-fat diet-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)-associated kidney damages: a stereological study

Background The non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is prevalent in as many as 25% of adults who are afflicted with metabolic syndrome. Oxidative stress plays a significant role in the pathophysiology of hepatic and renal injury associated with NAFLD. Therefore, probiotics such as Lactobacillus casei (LBC) and the microalga Chlorella vulgaris (CV) may be beneficial in alleviating kidney injury related to NAFLD. Materials and methods This animal study utilized 30 C57BL/6 mice, which were evenly distributed into five groups: the control group, the NAFLD group, the NAFLD + CV group, the NAFLD + LBC group, and the NAFLD + CV + LBC group. A high-fat diet (HFD) was administered to induce NAFLD for six weeks. The treatments with CV and LBC were continued for an additional 35 days. Biochemical parameters, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and the expression of kidney damage marker genes ( KIM 1 and NGAL ) in serum and kidney tissue were determined, respectively. A stereological analysis was conducted to observe the structural changes in kidney tissues. Results A liver histopathological examination confirmed the successful induction of NAFLD. Biochemical investigations revealed that the NAFLD group exhibited increased ALT and AST levels, significantly reduced in the therapy groups ( p