Department of Experimental Pharmacology, University of Naples "Federico II", 80131 Naples, Italy.
J Nutr Biochem. 2011 Aug;22(8):699-711. doi: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2010.10.002. Epub 2011 Feb 2.
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is currently the most common liver disease worldwide, both in adults and in children. NAFLD is characterized by aberrant lipid storage in hepatocytes (hepatic steatosis) and inflammatory progression to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Evidences so far suggest that intrahepatic lipid accumulation does not always derive from obesity. Gut microbiota has been considered as a regulator of energy homeostasis and ectopic fat deposition, suggesting its implications in metabolic diseases. Probiotics are live microbial that alter the enteric microflora and have beneficial effects on human health. Although the molecular mechanisms of probiotics have not been completely elucidated yet, many of their effects have proved to be beneficial in NAFLD, including the modulation of the intestinal microbiota, an antibacterial substance production, an improved epithelial barrier function and a reduced intestinal inflammation. Given the close anatomical and functional correlation between the bowel and the liver, and the immunoregulatory effects elicited by probiotics, the aim of this review is to summarize today's knowledge about probiotics in NAFLD, focusing in particular on their molecular and biochemical mechanisms, as well as highlighting their efficacy as an emerging therapeutic strategy to treat this condition.
非酒精性脂肪性肝病（NAFLD）是目前全世界范围内最常见的肝脏疾病，无论是在成人还是儿童中。NAFLD 的特征是肝细胞中异常的脂质储存（肝脂肪变性）和向非酒精性脂肪性肝炎的炎症进展。迄今为止的证据表明，肝内脂质堆积并不总是来自肥胖。肠道微生物群被认为是能量平衡和异位脂肪沉积的调节剂，提示其与代谢性疾病有关。益生菌是改变肠道微生物群并对人类健康有益的活微生物。尽管益生菌的分子机制尚未完全阐明，但它们的许多作用已被证明对 NAFLD 有益，包括调节肠道微生物群、产生抗菌物质、改善上皮屏障功能和减少肠道炎症。鉴于肠道和肝脏之间的解剖和功能密切相关，以及益生菌引起的免疫调节作用，本综述的目的是总结目前关于益生菌在 NAFLD 中的知识，特别关注其分子和生化机制，并强调它们作为治疗这种疾病的新兴治疗策略的疗效。
