The effect of synbiotics on liver enzymes, obesity indices, blood pressure, lipid profile, and inflammation in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

• Published in: Pharmacological research Vol. 208; p. 107398
• Main Authors: Musazadeh, Vali, Assadian, Kimia, Rajabi, Fatemeh, Faghfouri, Amir Hossein, Soleymani, Yosra, Kavyani, Zeynab, Najafiyan, Behnam
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2024; Elsevier
• Subjects: Inflammation factors; Lipid profiles; Liver function; Meta-analysis; Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; Synbiotics; Liver function; Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; Inflammation factors; Synbiotics; Lipid profiles; Meta-analysis; inflammation factors; meta-analysis; lipid profiles; nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; synbiotics; liver function
• ISSN: 1043-6618; 1096-1186; 1096-1186
• DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2024.107398

Patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) benefit from using synbiotics. However, findings from existing trials remain contentious. Therefore, this meta-analysis evaluated the effects of synbiotics on liver enzymes, blood pressure, inflammation, and lipid profiles in patients with NAFLD. We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, Scopus, and Web of Science for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) regarding synbiotics supplementation in patients with NAFLD. The meta-analysis revealed that synbiotics supplementation significantly improved liver enzymes (AST, WMD: −9.12 IU/L; 95 % CI: −13.19 to −5.05; ALT, WMD: −8.53 IU/L; 95 % CI: −15.07 to −1.99; GGT, WMD: −10.42 IU/L; 95 % CI: −15.19 to −5.65), lipid profile (TC, WMD: −7.74 mg/dL; 95 % CI: −12.56 to −2.92), obesity indices (body weight, WMD: −1.95 kg; 95 % CI: −3.69 to −0.22; WC, WMD: −1.40 cm; 95 % CI: −2.71 to −0.10), systolic blood pressure (SBP, WMD: −6.00 mmHg; 95 % CI: −11.52 to −0.49), and inflammatory markers (CRP, WMD: −0.69 mg/L; 95 % CI: −1.17 to −0.21; TNF-α, WMD: −14.01 pg/mL; 95 % CI: −21.81 to −6.20). Overall, supplementation with synbiotics positively improved liver enzymes, obesity indices, and inflammatory cytokines in patients with NAFLD. [Display omitted]