A new population study found daily supplementation with a prebiotic and probiotic supplement can reduce inflammation and increase antioxidant capacity in patients with NAFLD (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease). Oxidative stress and inflammation are associated with NAFLD. Prior research has shown prebiotics and probiotics having anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties.
75 individuals with NAFLD participated in this study. Participants were randomized into four groups: group one received a probiotic supplement containing 20 milllion CFUs (colony-forming units) of Lactobacillus acidophilus (LA) and Bifidobacterium longum (BL) daily, group two received prebiobics (10g of daily inulin), group three received the pre and probiotic supplements daily and the last group received a placebo. The study period lasted 3 months. Prior to and after the study period participant’s levels of inflammation, oxidatives and anti-oxidatives, and anthropometic indexes (Anthropometric measurements are used to assess the size, shape and composition of the human body) were taken.
Participants who supplemented with prebiotics and probiotics or a combination of the two experienced a reduction in BMI, smaller waist and hip circumferences, weight loss, reduced tumor necrosis factor-a and increased serum levels of total antioxidant capacity. Additionally participants who supplemented with both the prebiotics and probiotics saw reductions in high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) compared to all the other groups of participants.
Further studies using increased numbers of participants and a longer-term follow up are needed to better support the conclusions reached in this study.
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