This dietary fiber can improve alcohol-induced liver injury

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD), which is a liver disease caused by long-term heavy drinking, is one of the common liver diseases in China, including alcoholic fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, alcoholic liver fibrosis and alcoholic cirrhosis. In recent years, the prevalence of alcoholic liver disease has shown an increasing trend in China.

On July 2, 2024, Liu Zhihua of Tsinghua University, Wang Hua of Anhui Medical University, Yin Shi of the University of Science and Technology of China and other researchers published an article entitled "Dietary fiber alleviates alcoholic liver injury via" in the journal Cell Host & Microbe "Bacteroides acidifaciens and subsequent ammonia detoxification".

A diet rich in soluble dietary fiber was found to increase the abundance of B. accidifaciens and reduce alcohol-induced liver injury in mice.

On the mechanism, B.accifaciens regulates bile acid metabolism through bile saline hydrolysis enzyme (BSH). The increase of unbinding bile acid activates FXR-FGF15 pathway in the intestine, protects intestinal barrier function, promotes the expression of ornithine aminotransferase (OAT) in hepatocytes, and thus promotes the metabolism of accumulated ornithine in the liver to glutamate. Provide raw materials for liver detoxification and reduce liver cell damage.

this study, the researchers first induced alcoholic liver disease in a mouse model and analyzed the effects of dietary fiber on alcoholic liver disease in mice by supplementing both soluble and insoluble fiber.

The results found that soluble dietary fiber supplementation significantly improved alcoholic liver disease in mice, including alleviating liver steatosis and reducing the percentage and total number of liver neutrophils, while insoluble dietary fiber did not have a significant effect.

Because dietary fiber can significantly affect the gut microbiota, the researchers further analyzed whether the improvement in alcoholic liver disease was attributable to the gut microbiota through microbiota transplantation techniques.

After transplantation, it was found that transplanting the microflora of mice fed soluble dietary fiber reduced serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels, while reducing liver steatosis and inflammation levels, suggesting that soluble dietary fiber may influence the development of ALD by reshaping the composition of intestinal microflora.

The study showed that soluble dietary fiber improved liver cell necrosis, liver steatosis and inflammation in the mouse model of alcoholic liver disease, and also reduced blood ammonia level and oxidative stress, highlighting the important role of soluble dietary fiber in the prevention and treatment of alcoholic liver disease.

It is important to note that adults are generally recommended to consume 25-30 grams or more of dietary fiber per day, but most people do not meet dietary recommendations. Whole grains, fruits and vegetables are rich sources of dietary fiber and can provide other essential micronutrients.

In summary, the results suggest that a diet rich in soluble dietary fiber can improve alcohol-induced liver injury in mouse models while protecting the integrity of the intestinal barrier. This study has certain clinical value and social significance.