Lactitol Supplementation Modulates Intestinal Microbiome in Liver Cirrhotic Patients.

Cirrhosis is a common chronic liver disease characterized by irreversible diffuse liver damage. Intestinal microbiome dysbiosis and metabolite dysfunction contribute to the development of cirrhosis. Lactitol (4-β-D-galactopyranosyl-D-glucitol) was previously reported to promote the growth of intestinal . However, the effect of lactitol on the intestinal microbiome and fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and bile acids (BAs) and the interactions among these factors in cirrhotic patients pre- and post-lactitol treatment remain poorly understood. Here, using shotgun metagenomics and targeted metabolomics methods. we found that health-promoting lactic acid bacteria, including , and , were increased after lactitol intervention, and significant decrease of pathogen and associated antibiotic resistant genes /virulence factors. Functionally, pathways including Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm formation, endotoxin biosynthesis, and horizontal transfer of pathogenic genes were decreased in cirrhotic patients after 4-week lactitol intervention compared with before treatment. We identified lactitol-associated metagenomic changes, and provide insight into the understanding of the roles of lactitol in modulating gut microbiome in cirrhotic patients.