In a recent study by researchers at the University of Jyväskylä, they were able to successfully cure fatty liver disease in laboratory mice. The experimental animals with fatty liver disease were fed a nutritional supplement. This is known to be the growthgood bacteria in the intestinesincreased. While the intestinal flora of the mice improved, the liver fat in the animals decreased significantly. In addition, preliminary results from a human study appear promising.
Prebiotics can cure fatty liver disease
It is estimated that a quarter of the Finnish population suffers from fatty liver disease. Such a condition is characterized primarily by a disturbed metabolism. Without treatment, this can develop into liver cirrhosis or even hepatocellular carcinoma or liver cancer. So former research fellow at the Academy of Finland Satu Pekkala and her research team were able to cure fatty liver disease by giving mice Faecalibacterium prausnitzii. This is a member of the microbiota with known anti-inflammatory properties. In the most recent study, the research team fed the lab rats a nutritional supplement that could partially prevent fatty liver disease. Unfortunately, this type of health-promoting intestinal microbe cannot yet be sold in pharmacies for human use. For this reason, the researchers wanted to find out whether they could improve the natural intestinal flora with a prebiotic fiber.
A prebiotic is a selectively fermented food component that cannot be digested in the intestine, but instead serves as food for the good intestinal microbes such as lactobacilli. This has positive effects on the health of the host. The research team first found that the aforementioned Faecalibacterium prausnitzii could use prebiotic xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS) as food, which increased its growth. After this positive result, the research team conducted a dietary intervention in laboratory mice that induced fatty liver disease. At the same time, they were given a diet fortified with this supplement for 12 weeks. XOS is a dietary supplement available in health food stores and online shops.
Study results
The results of the research showed that XOS increased the growth of the health-promoting bacteria while significantly reducing the rats' liver fat content. So the most important factors that contributed to the reduced liver fat were improved liver fat and glucose metabolism. This isthe first study, which shows such an effect for XOS. Although the study was conducted on rats, the research team has already conducted an XOS intervention on people with fatty liver disease. According to the scientists, the human study ended in June and some of the preliminary results appear promising. The research team therefore expects to be able to publish further results next year.
