Human liver is undebatably, one of the most vital organs to maintain health and promote growth.  The most common liver disease as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) which usually occurs along with insulin resistance, alcoholic liver disease, and liver tumor. Did you know that one of the causes of both these diseases is imbalance of gut microflora, which is why health care professionals advise probiotics for liver disease treatment along with other conventional therapies.    

How To Treat Liver Diseases With Probiotics

The normal flora produces essential nutrients (vitamin K and biotin) and generates by-products (short chain fatty acids) that help reduce the risk of developing certain cancers, digestive disorders, metabolic syndromes as well as liver and heart disease. Our gut microflora is disrupted due to many reason like unhealthy eating practices, antibiotics, etc. Probiotics help us regain the balance between good and bad bacteria, improve digestion and assimilation of nutrients, and improve out immune system.

Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD): Probiotics are especially beneficial for the liver. Their action revolves around modification of the intestinal barrier function, and increasing the strength of the barrier function by altering gut flora for the better. Probiotics therapy also arrests the growth of intestinal pathogenic bacteria which is responsible for causing hepatic insulin resistance and NAFLD. Thus, the help in the prevention of NAFLD and reduce associated inflammation too.

Alcoholic Liver Disease:  Gut microflora assessment of people with alcoholic liver disease has revealed that they have significantly lower numbers of bifidobacteria, lactobacilli and enterococci as compared to healthy individual. Supplementation of Bifidobacterium bifidum and Lactobacillus plantarum caused an improvement in liver enzyme levels (ALT & AST). Thus, indicating modulation of the bowel flora may play a role in the pathogenesis and treatment of alcoholic liver disease.

Liver Function: Probiotics have the capacity to improve liver function pre and post surgery. A study conducted revealed that supplementation of multi strain probiotic supplements improved the liver status a there was an improvement in the liver markers and survival rates along with reduction in postoperative complications, mortality rates. Preoperative use of probiotics also improves resection of liver tumor, and enhances the effect of cell activity during treatment.  

How To Incorporate Probiotics To Treat Liver Disease

• Probiotics should be taken on a regular basis for maintenance of a healthy digestive and immune system. Start with small doses of probiotics, and gradually increase the dose.
• Probiotics can be consumed in daily diet in the form of diary products like acidophilus milk, kefir, cultured milk, cultured buttermilk, and yogurt. Probiotics can also be added to daily diet by incorporating soy, rice or coconut milk with live microbes, pickled vegetables (Raw kimchi, sauerkraut or pickled beets, carrots or other vegetables), hummus, rejuvenac, kombucha, tempeh, natto, formulated health bars, miso, cereals, and certain probiotic salad dressings.
• Probiotics are also available as a wide variety of dietary supplements in capsule, tablets or liquid forms for easy use.

Best Probiotics for Liver Disease

Studies have identified Bifidobacterium bifidum and Lactobacillus plantarum to be the strains that effectively help in controlling liver disease.

You can choose from a variety of commercial probiotic products like Bifidophilous chews, Acidophilus milk, Nutrition now PB8 Acidophilus, Probiotic complex quantum, Probiotic yoghurt, Choice Super 8 High Potency Probiotic, Advanced Adult Probiotic, Yakult, Align, Activia yogurt, EcoVag, Yoplait YoPlus, Stonyfield yogurt, Pearl, Dong Quai, Coco Biotic, Goodbelly splash, Goodbelly probiotic fruit drink, Mutaflor, Actimel, etc.

Things to Remember while Using Probiotic Therapy

Probiotic foods can be administered in any age group and is extremely safe. However, people who have compromised immunity should not be given probiotics as it increases the risk of infection. If probiotic supplements are used it is best if used under medical supervision.

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