Current evidence on the use of probiotics in liver disease, Norberto C. Chávez-Tapia, Leticia González-Rodríguez, MinSeung Jeong, Yanine López-Ramírez, Varenka Barbero-Becerra, Eva Juárez-Hernández, Juan L. Romero-Flores, Marco Arrese, Nahúm Méndez-Sánchez, Misael Uribe, Journal of Functional Foods, August 2015.
The digestive system contains various strains of bacteria that, among other functions, form a barrier against potential pathogens and help regulate the immune response in the human body. The composition of the intestinal microbiota and differences in it play an important role in the development of liver disease. Under pathological conditions, bacteria release substances into the gut–liver axis, causing pro-inflammatory and autoimmune responses in the liver. These responses may directly damage liver cells.
Probiotic bacteria have been shown to have a positive effect in treating several liver diseases by reducing bacterial toxin production and regulating autoimmune responses, intestinal permeability and the inflammatory response.