Fatty liver diseases continue to increase in Germany. The so-called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is now the most common liver disease in Western countries. According to the German Society for Gastroenterology, Digestive and Metabolic Diseases (DGVS), around 42 percent of Germans already have a fatty liver, and mostly without knowing it. It's a hidden danger that many of us haven't even heard of, but it can cause serious damage to this vital organ. The good news is thatgut-friendly bacteria in yogurtproven to help against NAFLD. Below we will tell you why yogurt is good for the liver and what research says about it.
Yogurt for liver disease
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) encompasses a spectrum of diseases ranging from simple hepatic steatosis to fibrosis and cirrhosis. The abnormal accumulation of fat in the liver has nothing to do with alcohol consumption, but can also lead to other health problems such as heart attack and stroke. There are no specific treatments for NAFLD, howevera lot of movementand a healthy diet can help. The large 2019 study in China also suggests that people who regularly eat a cup of yogurt are likely to have healthier livers than people who don't eat yogurt.
Yogurt is one of the best sources of probiotics
Yogurt is made by fermenting milk with a live bacterial culture. The culture ferments the lactose (the natural sugar in milk) and produces lactic acid, which gives yogurt its distinctive flavor. Yogurt still contains calcium, vitamins B6 and B12, riboflavin, potassium, magnesium and a lot of protein.
Yogurt is one of the best natural sources of probiotics, which scientists believe can lower fat levels in the liver, reduce liver damage and regulate fat levels in the blood. To find out more about whether consuming yogurt can curb the development of NAFLD, the authors of this study examined the yogurt eating habits of 24,389 people in China. All were adults who filled out a questionnaire about their lifestyle and diet. Participants underwent an ultrasound scan of their abdomen so doctors could determine whether they had NAFLD.
Yogurt eaters tended to be healthier
People who ate yogurt frequently tended to be younger, more likely to be female, and less likely to be overweight than people who ate little or no yogurt. They also had healthier blood lipid levels and lower blood pressure, exercised more, and were less likely to smoke and drink alcohol than people who didn't eat yogurt.
People with NAFLD tended to be older, more likely to be male, and more likely to be overweight than people without the disease. They also had lower healthy levels of fat in their blood, higher blood pressure and were more likely to smoke and drink alcohol.
Higher yogurt consumption was associated with less NAFLD
When analyzing data on yogurt consumption and NAFLD, the authors adjusted the results to account for differences in participants' age, gender, and overweight or obesity. In this way, the effects of yogurt on NAFLD could be made more clearly visible.
People who ate yogurt 2-3 times per week had an 8% lower risk of developing NAFLD than those who ate less than one serving of yogurt per week. The risk fell even more (14%) for people who consumed yogurt at least four times a week.
These results need to be confirmed by large clinical trials before firm conclusions can be drawn, the authors said. How yogurt affects the development of NAFLD is still unknown. The probiotics found in yogurt have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and immunomodulatory effects that could help reduce the risk of liver disease. Yogurt is rich in calcium, which is associated with increased breakdown of fats in the body.
300g of probiotic yogurt per day
Another study from 2015 also provides evidence of possible positive effects of probiotic products in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The effects of consuming probiotic yogurt on obesity levels, fasting insulin, insulin resistance as well as leptin and adiponectin levels in the serum of NAFLD patients were examined in a randomized, controlled, double-blind clinical study.
Seventy-two subjects between the ages of 23 and 63 were divided into two groups. Subjects consumed either 300 g/day of probiotic yogurt or 300 g/day of regular yogurt for 8 weeks.
Consuming probiotic yogurt resulted in a significant reduction in weight, body mass index, and fasting serum insulin levels compared to the control group. No significant changes were found in waist circumference, homeostasis model insulin resistance, serum leptin and adiponectin levels, and leptin to adiponectin ratio in both groups. The study suggests that consuming probiotic yogurt improves body mass index and insulin levels and may help reduce risk factors for NAFLD.
Conclusion: Yogurt is good for the liver
Yogurt offers other health benefits in addition to the basic nutrients it provides. Some of these benefits are due to the probiotics - healthy bacteria - that are added to yogurt during processing, giving it the distinctive taste, texture and tangy flavor that is popular around the world. Some studies have shown that probiotics from yogurt can help the body better absorb nutrients, reduce symptoms of lactose intolerance, reduce the side effects of antibiotics, aid digestion, and even strengthen the immune system.
