Probiotic Supplementation in Patients with Alcoholic Cirrhosis

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Probiotic Supplementation in Patients with Alcoholic Cirrhosis

http://www.vitasearch.com/CP/weeklyupdates/

Reference: " Effect of probiotic treatment on deranged neutrophil

function and cytokine responses in patients with compensated alcoholic

cirrhosis, " Stadlbauer V, Mookerjee RP, et al, Journal of Hepatology,

2008; 48(6): 945-951. (Address: Liver Failure Group, The Institute of

Hepatology, Division of Medicine, University College London, 69-75

Chenies Mews, London WC1E 6HX, UK).

Summary: In an open-label study involving 20 patients with alcoholic

cirrhosis and 13 healthy controls, supplementation with probiotics for

one month was found to restore neutrophil function, which was found to

be impaired in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis, as compared to healthy

controls. Baseline neutrophil phagocytic capacity was 73% in patients,

as compared to 98% in healthy controls. 12 of the patients with

alcoholic cirrhosis received treatment with Lactobacillus casei Shirota

(6.5 x 10(9)) - three times daily for one month - while 8 of the

patients with alcoholic cirrhosis did not. The 13 healthy controls did

not receive probiotic treatment either. By the end of the study,

neutrophil phagocytic capacity normalized among patients treated with

probiotics, while no improvement was found among untreated patients.

Levels of TLR4 (toll-like receptor) expression normalized among treated

patients by the end of the study as well. The authors conclude, & q

uot;Our data provide a proof-of-concept that probiotics restore

neutrophil phagocytic capacity in cirrhosis, possibly by changing IL10

secretion and TLR4 expression, warranting larger randomised controlled

and mechanistic studies. "

--

ne Holden, MS, RD

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