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World J Gastroenterol. Oct 28, 2013; 19(40): 6911-6918
Published online Oct 28, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i40.6911
Published online Oct 28, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i40.6911
Effects of probiotics on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: A meta-analysis
Yan-Yan Ma, Lin Li, Chao-Hui Yu, Zhe Shen, Li-Hua Chen, You-Ming Li, Department of Gastroenterology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, Zhejiang Province, China
Author contributions: Li YM proposed the study; Ma YY, Lin L, Yu CH, Shen Z, Chen LH collected data; Ma YY, Lin L, Yu CH, Shen Z, Chen LH, Li YM analyzed and interpreted the data; Ma YY drafted the manuscript; Li YM revised the manuscript; all the authors contributed to the design and interpretation of the study, read and approved the final version to be published.
Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 81300303; Zhejiang Provincial Laboratory Animal Science Technology Program of China, No. 2011C37088; Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province, China, No. Y13H030004
Correspondence to: You-Ming Li, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou 310003, Zhejiang Province, China. zlym@zju.edu.cn
Telephone: +86-571-87236532 Fax: +86-571-87236532
Received: June 30, 2013
Revised: August 24, 2013
Accepted: September 3, 2013
Published online: October 28, 2013
Revised: August 24, 2013
Accepted: September 3, 2013
Published online: October 28, 2013
Core Tip
Core tip: For many decades, researchers have carried out studies on the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, no firm conclusions have been made regarding the efficacy of various treatments for NAFLD. Here we conducted a meta-analysis of the pooled data from randomized controlled trials to assess the efficacy of probiotic therapies and showed that probiotic therapy significantly decreased alanine aminotransferase, aspartate transaminase, total-cholesterol, high density lipoprotein, tumor necrosis factor-α and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance. Thus, probiotics may help to improve liver function, fat metabolism and insulin resistance in NAFLD patients.