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Probiotics may be useful for drug-induced liver dysfunction in patients with depression - a secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial

O. Gawlik-Kotelnicka, J. Burzyński, J. Rogalski, A. Skowrońska, D. Strzelecki

Clinical Nutrition ESPEN, 2024

116 participants · 8 citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND & AIMS

There is a need to identify new treatment options for depression with its comorbidities. Depression often coexists with liver steatosis and the two may share a pathophysiological overlap, including inflammation and microbiota changes. Probiotics might represent a safe option as an adjunctive therapy in patients with depression and possible liver steatosis. The paper presents the secondary analysis of a clinical trial of the effect of probiotic supplementation on the levels of non-invasive markers of liver steatosis and fibrosis in adult patients with depressive disorders.

METHODS

The research had a two-arm, parallel-group, prospective, randomized, double-blind, controlled design on probiotics in depression. 116 participants received a probiotic preparation containing Lactobacillus helveticus Rosell®-52 and Bifidobacterium longum Rosell®-175 over 60 days. Here, data from 92 subjects was analyzed. The following were assessed: alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alanine aminotransferase/aspartate aminotransferase (ALT/AST) ratio, Hepatic Steatosis Index, Framingham Steatosis Index, as well as non-invasive biomarkers of liver fibrosis (AST to Platelet Ratio Index, Fibosis-4 Index), or baseline socio-demographic, clinical, and laboratory parameters.

RESULTS

The probiotics did not influence liver steatosis and fibrosis parameters compared with placebo (p=.940 for HSI). However, the subgroup analysis revealed significant differences in liver-related parameters when…

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a secondary / pooled analysis, done in people. Its evidence level is 3 of 5 (Moderate · trial / cohort / secondary analysis). Trials without a large randomized design, cohorts and secondary analyses give moderate evidence. Reported size: 116 participants or records.

How the five levels of evidence work. The level is assigned automatically from the abstract and can be wrong, so check the paper.

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