ABSTRACT
Background and Aim: Probiotic products may have positive effects in the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease [NAFLD]. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of consumption of probiotic yogurt on some metabolic factors in the patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease [NAFLD]
Material and Methods: This double-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial included 72 patients between 23 to 63 years of age with NAFLD [33 males and 39 females]. The intervention group [n = 36] consumed 300 g/d of pro-biotic yogurt containing Lactobacillus acidophilus La5 and Bifidobacterium lactis Bb12 and the control group [n = 36] consumed 300 g/d of conventionalyogurt for 8 weeks. Using SPSS software version 16, data analysis was performed by chi-square test, independent sample t-test, analysis of covariance, and paired sample t-test
Results: Fasting blood samples, anthropometric measurements, and dietary records [24 h/day for 3 days] were collected at baseline at the end of the trial. Probiotic yogurt consumption resulted in 4.67%, 5.42%, 4.1%, and 6.92% reductions of serum levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase [P<0.02], total cholesterol [P<0.001], and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [P<0.001], in the intervention group, compared to the control group. Both groups showed no significant changes in the levels of serum glucose, triglyceride, or high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [P>0.05]
Conclusion: Probiotic yogurt consumption improved hepatic enzymes, serum total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in the subjects. Therefore, it might be useful in the management of NAFLD risk factors