Synbiotics Impact on Insulin and TNF-α in MAFLD: a Gut Microbiota Profile Analysis

Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is a common chronic liver disease estimated to affect 25% of the global population. NAFLD is defined as the presence of fat in the liver that is not associated with alcohol consumption. The researchers proposed a new term, Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD), which covers a range of liver conditions associated with metabolic dysregulation, including obesity and type 2 diabetes. MAFLD is a systemic disease with complications such as obesity, which is closely related to glucose and lipid metabolism. Obesity is associated with comorbidities such as dyslipidaemia, hypertension and diabetes.

The pathogenesis mechanism of MAFLD is complex and involves several factors such as mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and increased free fatty acids (FFA). The 'multi-hit' theory explains how lifestyle, environmental and genetic factors contribute to the development of MAFLD. The gut microbiota also plays an important role in the development of MAFLD through the gut-liver axis, where microbiota imbalance can lead to inflammation and liver damage.

Research shows the microbiota composition in MAFLD patients is different from healthy people, with an increase in Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria and a decrease in butyrate-producing bacteria. Interventions with probiotics and prebiotics (synbiotics) have been shown to reduce liver fibrosis and improve metabolic profiles. The investigators are interested in assessing the effects of synbiotics on changes in metabolic biomarkers, insulin, TNF-α, and gut microbiota in MAFLD patients.

Inclusion criteria

• Adult patients aged 25-55 years
• Patients are willing to become research respondents after filling out informed consent
• Patients can and are willing to consume supplements orally within a predetermined time
• Patients are willing to record compliance with taking supplements in a diary that has been provided
• Patients diagnosed with MAFLD by FibroScan interpreted by a specialist in gastroenterology-hepatology with a CAP score ≥263 dB/m

Exclusion criteria

• Patients with hepatitis (hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and autoimmune hepatitis) and alcoholic liver disease, cirrhosis of the liver
• Patients who are pregnant, or breastfeeding or in a programme to become pregnant during participation in this study.
• Patients with a history of alcohol consumption >40 g/day.
• Patients with a history of decompensated disease including ascites, encephalopathy, variceal haemorrhage
• Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC)
• Patients with a history of bowel resection or bariatric surgery Patients with chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
• Patients with a history of antibiotic use or probiotic/prebiotic/synbiotic consumption in the past 1 month
• Use of Vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids
• Patients who were not hospitalised in the last month and therefore did not have any food restrictions related to their illness.