The patient generated subjective global assessment short form is a useful screening tool to detect risk for malnutrition in patients with cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Malnutrition is a modifiable risk factor for morbidity and mortality in cirrhosis. Nutrition risk screening is recommended in cirrhosis nutrition guidelines, but is not routinely completed in practice. The patient-generated subjective global assessment short form (PG-SGA SF) is a patient-completed screen that has potential to be a substitute for more time and resource intensive nutrition screens. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to compare the PG-SGA SF and three other patient-completed screens against the nutrition assessment reference method in cirrhosis, the Royal Free Hospital subjective global assessment (RFH-SGA). We also explored whether being classified "at-risk" on a nutritional screening tool was associated with clinical outcomes of unplanned hospitalization or death. METHODS: Patients completed four nutrition screening tools with or without support from a caregiver. The RFH-SGA was carried out by a blinded registered dietitian. The four screening tools were compared against the RFH-SGA to calculate sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive value. RESULTS: A total of 121 patients were included. The PG-SGA SF screened the highest number of patients positive for malnutrition risk (52%), was the most accurate, and had the highest sensitivity. Being at risk for malnutrition on the PG-SGA SF was associated with a higher risk of unplanned hospitalization (unadjusted sHR 2.78 (95% CI 1.3-5.9), p = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS: The PG-SGA SF identifies malnutrition risk at similar or superior rates to other patient-generated screening tools in patients with cirrhosis. Our findings support its potential as a patient completed solution for identifying malnutrition risk in cirrhosis.

Predicted estimates of resting energy expenditure have limited clinical utility in patients with cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Malnutrition is associated with adverse clinical outcomes in patients with cirrhosis. Accurate assessment of energy requirements is needed to optimize dietary intake. Resting energy expenditure (REE), the major component of total energy expenditure, can be measured using indirect calorimetry (mREE) or estimated using prediction equations (pREE). This study assessed the usefulness of predicted estimates of REE in this patient population. METHODS: Individual mREE data were available for 900 patients with cirrhosis (mean [±1 SD] age 55.7±11.6 years-old; 70% men; 52% south-east Asian) and 282 healthy controls (mean age 36.0±12.8 years-old; 52% men; 18% south-east Asian). Metabolic status was classified using thresholds based on the mean ± 1 SD of the mREE in the healthy controls. Comparisons were made between mREE and pREE estimates obtained using the Harris-Benedict, Mifflin, Schofield and Henry equations. Stepwise regression was used to build 3 new prediction models which included sex, ethnicity, body composition measures, and model for end-stage liver disease scores. RESULTS: The mean mREE was significantly higher in patients than controls when referenced to dry body weight (22.4±3.8 cf. 20.8±2.6 kcal/kg/24 hr; p <0.001); there were no significant sex differences. The mean mREE was significantly higher in Caucasian than Asian patients (23.1±4.4 cf. 21.7±2.9 kcal/kg/24 hr; p <0.001). Overall, 37.1% of Caucasian and 25.3% of Asian patients were classified as hypermetabolic. The differences between mREE and pREE were both statistically and clinically relevant; in the total patient population, pREE estimates ranged from 501 kcal/24 hr less to 548 kcal/24 hr more than the mREE. Newly derived prediction equations provided better estimates of mREE but still had limited clinical utility. CONCLUSIONS: Prediction equations do not provide useful estimates of REE in patients with cirrhosis. REE should be directly measured. LAY SUMMARY: People with cirrhosis are often malnourished and this has a detrimental effect on outcome. Provision of an adequate diet is very important and is best achieved by measuring daily energy requirements and adjusting dietary intake accordingly. Prediction equations, which use information on age, sex, weight, and height can be used to estimate energy requirements; however, the results they provide are not accurate enough for clinical use, particularly as they vary according to sex and ethnicity.

Assessing Patient Proficiency with Internet-Connected Technology and Their Preferences for E-Health in Cirrhosis.

There is a rapidly evolving need for e-health to support chronic disease self-management and connect patients with their healthcare teams. Patients with cirrhosis have a high symptom burden, significant comorbidities, and a range of psychological and cognitive issues. Patients with cirrhosis were assessed for their readiness and interest in e-health. Adults attending one of two outpatient cirrhosis clinics in Alberta were recruited. Eligible participants were not required to own or have experience with digital technologies or the Internet. Medical history, socioeconomic status, and attitudes regarding e-health, the Computer Proficiency Questionnaire, and the Mobile Device Proficiency Questionnaire were used to describe participants' knowledge and skills. Of the 117 recruited patients, 68.4% owned a computer and 84.6% owned a mobile device. Patients had mean proficiency scores of 72.8% (SD 25.9%) and 69.3% (SD 26.4%) for these devices, respectively. In multiple regression analyses, significant predictors of device proficiency were age, education, and household income. Most patients (78.7%) were confident they could participate in videoconferencing after training and most (61.5%) were interested in an online personalized health management program. This diverse group of patients with cirrhosis had technology ownership, proficiency, and online behaviours similar to the general population. Moreover, the patients were very receptive to e-health if training was provided. This promising data is timely given the unique demands of COVID-19 and its influence on self-management and healthcare delivery to a vulnerable population.

Using Patient Completed Screening Tools to Predict Risk of Malnutrition in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Background: Malnutrition is associated with adverse clinical outcomes in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), however, malnutrition screening is not routinely performed. This study aimed to identify the prevalence of malnutrition in patients with IBD and compare the accuracy of patient completed screens to a gold-standard malnutrition assessment tool: the dietitian-completed subjective global assessment (SGA). Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at 2 hospitals and 2 ambulatory care clinics in Alberta, Canada. Patients with IBD completed 4 malnutrition screening tools: abridged patient-generated SGA (abPG-SGA), Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST), Canadian Nutrition Screening Tool (CNST), and Saskatchewan IBD-nutrition risk (SaskIBD-NR). Risk of malnutrition was calculated for each tool and differences were compared between IBD subtype and body mass index (BMI) categories. Sensitivity and specificity, negative and positive predictive values (NPV and PPV), and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) were calculated compared to SGA. Results: Patients with Crohn's disease (n = 149) and ulcerative colitis (n = 96) participated in this study. Overall prevalence of malnutrition using SGA was 23% and malnutrition risk for CNST, abPG-SGA, SaskIBD-NR, and MUST was 37%, 36%, 36%, and 27%, respectively. Overall, the abPG-SGA had the highest sensitivity (83%), PPV (53%), and NPV (94%), and largest AUC (0.837) compared to SGA. For patients with a BMI ≥25 kg/m2, sensitivity and PPV of the abPG-SGA decreased to 73% and 41%, respectively, with a AUC of 0.841. Conclusions: Malnutrition is prevalent in patients with IBD and using malnutrition risk screening tools such as the abPG-SGA may be useful to identify patients who would benefit from further assessment.

Systematic review of nutrition screening and assessment in inflammatory bowel disease.

BACKGROUND: Malnutrition is prevalent in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Multiple nutrition screening (NST) and assessment tools (NAT) have been developed for general populations, but the evidence in patients with IBD remains unclear. AIM: To systematically review the prevalence of abnormalities on NSTs and NATs, whether NSTs are associated with NATs, and whether they predict clinical outcomes in patients with IBD. METHODS: Comprehensive searches performed in Medline, CINAHL Plus and PubMed. Included: English language studies correlating NSTs with NATs or NSTs/NATs with clinical outcomes in IBD. Excluded: Review articles/case studies; use of body mass index/laboratory values as sole NST/NAT; age < 16. RESULTS: Of 16 studies and 1618 patients were included, 72% Crohn's disease and 28% ulcerative colitis. Four NSTs (the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool, Malnutrition Inflammation Risk Tool (MIRT), Saskatchewan Inflammatory Bowel Disease Nutrition Risk Tool (SaskIBD-NRT) and Nutrition Risk Screening 2002 (NRS-2002) were significantly associated with nutritional assessment measures of sarcopenia and the Subjective Global Assessment (SGA). Three NSTs (MIRT, NRS-2002 and Nutritional Risk Index) were associated with clinical outcomes including hospitalizations, need for surgery, disease flares, and length of stay (LOS). Sarcopenia was the most commonly evaluated NAT associated with outcomes including the need for surgery and post-operative complications. The SGA was not associated with clinical outcomes aside from LOS. CONCLUSION: There is limited evidence correlating NSTs, NATs and clinical outcomes in IBD. Although studies support the association of NSTs/NATs with relevant outcomes, the heterogeneity calls for further studies before an optimal tool can be recommended. The NRS-2002, measures of sarcopenia and developments of novel NSTs/NATs, such as the MIRT, represent key, clinically-relevant areas for future exploration.

Are Predictive Energy Expenditure Equations Accurate in Cirrhosis?

Malnutrition is associated with significant morbidity and mortality in cirrhosis. An accurate nutrition prescription is an essential component of care, often estimated using time-efficient predictive equations. Our aim was to compare resting energy expenditure (REE) estimated using predictive equations (predicted REE, pREE) versus REE measured using gold-standard, indirect calorimetry (IC) (measured REE, mREE). We included full-text English language studies in adults with cirrhosis comparing pREE versus mREE. The mean differences across studies were pooled with RevMan 5.3 software. A total of 17 studies (1883 patients) were analyzed. The pooled cohort was comprised of 65% men with a mean age of 53 ± 7 years. Only 45% of predictive equations estimated energy requirements to within 90⁻110% of mREE using IC. Eighty-three percent of predictive equations underestimated and 28% overestimated energy needs by ±10%. When pooled, the mean difference between the mREE and pREE was lowest for the Harris⁻Benedict equation, with an underestimation of 54 (95% CI: 30⁻137) kcal/d. The pooled analysis was associated with significant heterogeneity (I2 = 94%). In conclusion, predictive equations calculating REE have limited accuracy in patients with cirrhosis, most commonly underestimating energy requirements and are associated with wide variations in individual comparative data.

Legume intake and risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

BACKGROUND: It is known that diet plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis and management of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD); however, the knowledge on the role of different food groups such as legumes is not enough. METHODS: We designed this study to assess the relationship between legume intake and risk of NAFLD in framework of a case-control study among Tehrani adults. One hundred and ninety-six newly diagnosed patients with NAFLD and 803 controls were studied, and their dietary intake was assessed using a valid and reliable food frequency questionnaire. Conditional logistic regression was used to determine the odds ratio (OR) of NAFLD per increase of one serving/week dietary legumes, lentil, and beans adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS: In energy-adjusted model, greater intake of legumes, lentils, and beans was associated with a lower risk of NAFLD. These risk associations remained significant after adjusting for all known risk factors of NAFLD. OR of NAFLD in adjusted models for higher dietary intake of legumes, lentils, and beans were 0.73 (0.64-0.84), 0.61 (0.46-0.78), and 0.35 (0.17-0.74), respectively. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that higher intake of total legumes (beans, lentils, and peas) was associated with lower risk of NAFLD.

Sarcopenic obesity in cirrhosis-The confluence of 2 prognostic titans.

Sarcopenia and obesity are 2 major health conditions with a growing prevalence in cirrhosis. The concordance of these 2 conditions, sarcopenic obesity, is associated with higher rates of mortality and impact on the metabolic profile and physical function than either condition alone. To date, there is little consensus surrounding the diagnostic criteria for sarcopenia, obesity or as a result, sarcopenic obesity in patients with cirrhosis. Cross-sectional imaging, although the most accurate diagnostic technique, has practical limitations for routine use in clinical practice. Management strategies are focused on increasing muscle mass and strength. The present review provides an overview of the diagnosis, pathophysiology, prognostic implications and management strategies available for sarcopenic obesity in cirrhosis. We also discuss the associated condition myosteatosis, the pathological accumulation of fat in skeletal muscle. Much work needs to be done to advance both clinical care and research in this area. Future directions require consensus definitions for sarcopenia, obesity and sarcopenic obesity, an expansion of our understanding of the complex pathogenesis of the muscle-liver-adipose tissue axis in cirrhosis and evidence to support management recommendations for nutrition, exercise and pharmacological therapies.

Association of Pro-inflammatory Dietary Intake and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Findings from Iranian case-control study.

Background: Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is considered as a major health problem in the world. There is much evidence that diet and dietary factors play an important role in inflammation, and consequently pathogenesis of NAFLD. To investigate the role of diet in the development of inflammation, we can use the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII), which has been shown to be predictive of levels of inflammatory markers. Methods: 295 incident cases were selected using the convenience-sampling procedure, and 704 controls randomly were selected from the same clinic and among the patients who had no hepatic steatosis and were frequency-matched on age (±5 years) and sex. The DII was computed based on dietary intake from 168-item FFQ. Logistic regression models were used to estimate multivariable ORs. Results: Subjects in tertile 3 had 1.57 (95% CI: 1.13-2.20), 1.78 (95% CI: 1.19-2.67), and 2.02 (95% CI: 1.32-3.09) times higher odds of developing NAFLD, compared to subjects in tertile 1 in models 1 (adjusted for age), 2 (model 1 + BMI, education, smoking, alcohol, diabetes, low density lipoprotein, triglycerides) and 3 (model 2 + aspartate transaminase/alanine transaminase), respectively. When used as a continuous variable, one unit increase in DII was associated with 1.16 (95% CI: 1.05, 1.29), 1.21 (95% CI: 1.107, 1.37) and 1.25 (95% CI: 1.10, 1.43) increase in odds of NAFLD in models one, 2 and 3 respectively. Conclusion: Subjects who consumed a more pro-inflammatory diet were at increased odds of NAFLD.

Dietary Composition Independent of Weight Loss in the Management of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Poor dietary composition is an important factor in the progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The majority of NAFLD patients follow diets with overconsumption of simple carbohydrates, total and saturated fat, with reduced intake of dietary fiber and omega-3 rich foods. Although lifestyle modifications including weight loss and exercise remain the keystone of NAFLD management, modifying dietary composition with or without a calorie-restricted diet may also be a feasible and sustainable strategy for NAFLD treatment. In the present review article, we highlight the potential therapeutic role of a "high quality healthy diet" to improve hepatic steatosis and metabolic dysfunction in patients with NAFLD, independent of caloric restriction and weight loss. We provide a literature review evaluating the evidence behind dietary components including fiber-, meat- and omega-3-rich diets and, pending further evidence, we concur with the EASL-EASD-EASO Clinical Guidelines recommendation of the Mediterranean diet as the diet of choice in these patients.

Egg consumption and risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

AIM: To evaluate the association between egg consumption and risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) development. METHODS: This case-control study was conducted on individuals who were referred to two hepatology clinics in Tehran, Iran in 2015. The study included 169 patients with NAFLD and 782 controls. Egg consumption was estimated using a validated food frequency questionnaire. The participants were categorized according to the frequency of their egg consumption during the previous year: Less than two eggs per week, two to three eggs per week, and four or more eggs per week. RESULTS: In the crude model, participants who consumed 2 to 3 eggs per week, were 3.56 times more likely to have NAFLD in comparison to those who consumed less than 2 eggs per week (OR: 3.56; 95%CI: 2.35-5.31). Adjustment for known risk factors of NAFLD strengthened this significant association so that individuals have consumed two to three eggs per week had 3.71 times higher risk of NAFLD than those who have eaten less than two eggs per week (OR: 3.71; 95%CI: 1.91, 7.75). CONCLUSION: Our data indicate that higher egg consumption in common amount of usage is associated with higher risk of NAFLD.

Nut consumption and total and cause-specific mortality: results from the Golestan Cohort Study.

Background: A number of prospective studies have observed inverse associations between nut consumption and chronic diseases. However, these studies have predominantly been conducted in Western countries, where nut consumption tends to be more common among individuals with healthier lifestyles. It is important to examine the association in other parts of the world, and particularly among populations with different patterns of disease, socioeconomic status, lifestyles and disease risk factors. Our objective was to examine the association between nut consumption and mortality in a population whose nut consumption does not track with a healthy lifestyle. Methods: We examined the association between nut consumption and all-cause and cause-specific mortality in the 50 045 participants of the Golestan Cohort Study. Participants were aged 40 and older at baseline in 2004, and have been actively followed since that time. Dietary data were collected using a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire that was administered at baseline. Results: During 349 677 person-years of follow-up, 3981 cohort participants died, including 1732 women and 2249 men. Nut consumption was associated inversely with all-cause mortality. The pooled multivariate adjusted hazard ratios for death among participants who ate nuts, as compared with those who did not, were 0.89 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.82-0.95] for the consumption of less than one serving of nuts per week, 0.75 (95% CI, 0.67-0.85) for one to less than three servings per week and 0.71 (95% CI, 0.58-0.86) for three or more servings per week ( P < 0.001 for trend). Among specific causes, significant inverse associations were observed between nut consumption and deaths due to cardiovascular disease, all cancers and gastrointestinal cancers. Conclusions: This study provides evidence for an inverse association between nut consumption and mortality in a developing country, where nut consumption does not track with a healthy lifestyle. Further work is needed to establish the underlying mechanisms responsible for this association.

Adherence to the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) and risk of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

This case-control study was conducted to examine the association between adherence to the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet and risk of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) development in 102 patients with newly diagnosed NAFLD and 204 controls. Adherence to DASH-style diet was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire, and a DASH diet score based on food and nutrients emphasized or minimized in the DASH diet. Participants in the top quartile of DASH diet score were 30% less likely to have NAFLD (OR: 0.0.70; 95% CI: 0.61, 0.80); however, more adjustment for dyslipidemia and body mass index changed the association to non-significant (OR: 0.92; 95% CI: 0.73, 1.12). In conclusion, we found an inverse relationship between the DASH-style diet and risk of NAFLD. Prospective studies are needed to confirm this association.

Flaxseed supplementation in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a pilot randomized, open labeled, controlled study.

A two-arm randomized open labeled controlled clinical trial was conducted on 50 patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Participants were assigned to take either a lifestyle modification (LM), or LM +30 g/day brown milled flaxseed for 12 weeks. At the end of the study, body weight, liver enzymes, insulin resistance and hepatic fibrosis and steatosis decreased significantly in both groups (p< 0.05); however, this reduction was significantly greater in those who took flaxseed supplementation (p < 0.05). The significant mean differences were reached in hepatic markers between flaxseed and control group, respectively: ALT [-11.12 compared with -3.7 U/L; P< 0.001], AST [-8.29 compared with -4 U/L; p < 0.001], GGT [-15.7 compared with -2.62 U/L; p < 0.001], fibrosis score [-1.26 compared with -0.77 kPa; p = 0.013] and steatosis score [-47 compared with -15.45 dB/m; p = 0.022]. In conclusion, flaxseed supplementation plus lifestyle modification is more effective than lifestyle modification alone for NAFLD management.

Recent advances in dietary supplementation, in treating non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is currently known as the most common liver problem, characterized by excessive lipid accumulation in hepatocytes, which may progress to other liver diseases such as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, hepatic tissue fibrosis, liver cirrhosis, and failure or hepatocellular carcinoma. Since NAFLD is positively associated with the development of obesity, insulin resistance, and ultimately type 2 diabetes mellitus, it is often regarded as the hepatic manifestation of the metabolic syndrome. No pharmacologic treatment has yet been proven for this disease. For most patients with presumed or confirmed NAFLD, the only proven strategy is to offer lifestyle advice that can lead to sustained weight loss. Since insulin resistance, oxidative stress, inflammation, and necro-apoptosis are involved in NAFLD pathogenesis, it seems that every potential therapeutic agent should target one or some of these pathologic events. There are many well known anti-oxidants, anti-inflammatory, and insulin sensitizer dietary supplements which have shown beneficial effects on NAFLD improvement in animal and human studies. The purpose of this review is to explore the existing evidences on dietary supplements considered to have hepatoprotective properties, and to present some proposed mechanisms by which they may protect against NAFLD.

Effects of synbiotic supplementation on insulin resistance in subjects with the metabolic syndrome: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study.

To evaluate the effects of synbiotic supplementation on insulin resistance and lipid profile in individuals with the metabolic syndrome, we conducted a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study on thirty-eight subjects with the metabolic syndrome; they were supplemented with either synbiotic capsules containing 200 million of seven strains of friendly bacteria plus fructo-oligosaccharide or placebo capsules twice a day for 28 weeks. Both the synbiotic (G1) and the placebo (G2) groups were advised to follow an energy-balanced diet and physical activity recommendations. Parameters related to the metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance were measured every 7 weeks during the course of the study. After 28 weeks of treatment, the levels of fasting blood sugar and insulin resistance improved significantly in the G1 group (P< 0·001). Both the G1 and G2 groups exhibited significant reductions in TAG levels ( - 71·22 v. - 10·47 mg/dl ( - 0·80 v. - 0·12 mmol/l) respectively; P< 0·001) and total cholesterol levels ( - 21·93 v. - 14·2 mg/dl ( - 0·57 v. - 0·37 mmol/l) respectively; P= 0·01), as well as increases in HDL levels (+7·7 v. +0·05 mg/dl (+0·20 v. +>0·01 mmol/l) respectively; P< 0·001). The mean differences observed were greater in the G1 group. No significant changes were observed in LDL levels, waist circumference, BMI, metabolic equivalent of task and energy intake between the groups. The present results indicate that synbiotic supplementation increases the efficacy of diet therapy in the management of the metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance.

Synbiotic supplementation in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease in the world. Oral administration of synbiotic has been proposed as an effective treatment of NAFLD because of its modulating effect on the gut flora, which can influence the gut-liver axis. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to evaluate the effects of supplementation with synbiotic on hepatic fibrosis, liver enzymes, and inflammatory markers in patients with NAFLD. DESIGN: In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial conducted as a pilot study, 52 patients with NAFLD were supplemented twice daily for 28 wk with either a synbiotic or a placebo capsule. Both groups were advised to follow an energy-balanced diet and physical activity recommendations. RESULTS: At the end of the study, the alanine aminotransferase (ALT) concentration decreased in both groups; this reduction was significantly greater in the synbiotic group. At the end of the study, the following significant differences [means (95% CIs)] were seen between the synbiotic and placebo groups, respectively: ALT [-25.1 (-26.2, -24) compared with -7.29 (-9.5, -5.1) IU/L; P < 0.001], aspartate aminotransferase [-31.33 (-32.1, -30.5) compared with -7.94 (-11.1, -4.8) IU/L; P < 0.001], γ-glutamyltransferase [-15.08 (-15.5, -14.7) compared with -5.21 (-6.6, -3.9) IU/L; P < 0.001], high-sensitivity C-reactive protein [-2.3 (-3, -1.5) compared with -1.04 (-1.5, -0.6) mmol/L; P < 0.05], tumor necrosis factor-α [-1.4 (-1.7, -1.1) compared with -0.59 (-0.8, -0.3) mmol/L; P < 0.001], total nuclear factor κ-B p65 [-0.016 (-0.022, -0.011) compared with 0.001 (-0.004, -0.007) mmol/L; P < 0.001], and fibrosis score as determined by transient elastography [- 2.98 (-3.6, -2.37) compared with -0.77 (-1.32, -0.22) kPa; P < 0.001]. CONCLUSIONS: Synbiotic supplementation in addition to lifestyle modification is superior to lifestyle modification alone for the treatment of NAFLD, at least partially through attenuation of inflammatory markers in the body. Whether these effects will be sustained with longer treatment durations remains to be determined.

Probiotics and Nonalcoholic Fatty liver Disease.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronicliver disease worldwide, both in adults and in children. NAFLD represents aspectrum of liver diseases that range from hepatic steatosis to steatohepatitisand cirrhosis. However, NAFLD is more prevalent in overweight and obeseindividuals. Evidences thus far suggest that hepatic triglyceride accumulationis not always derived from obesity; gut microbiota can also play a role in thedevelopment of insulin resistance, hepatic steatosis, necroinflammation andfibrosis. On the other hand, probiotics can strengthen the intestinal wall, reducingits permeability, bacterial translocation, and endotoxemia according toanimal and human studies. They can also reduce oxidative and inflammatoryliver damage, while improving the histological state in certain situations. Thisreview article focuses on research that has been conducted on probiotics andNAFLD, highlighting their efficacy as a novel therapeutic option for the treatmentof this condition.