A protective mechanism of probiotic Lactobacillus against hepatic steatosis via reducing host intestinal fatty acid absorption

Exp Mol Med. 2019 Aug 13;51(8):1-14. doi: 10.1038/s12276-019-0293-4.

Abstract

The gut microbiome has been known to contribute up to ~30% of the energy absorption of the host. Although various beneficial mechanisms of probiotics have been suggested for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), whether and which probiotics impact the host's intestinal energy absorption have not yet been quantitatively studied. Here, we suggest a novel mechanism of probiotics against NAFLD, in which Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, the most common probiotic, shares intestinal fatty acids and prevents the development of diet-induced hepatic steatosis. By using quantitative methods (radioactive tracers and LC-MS) under both in vitro and in vivo conditions, we found that bacteria and hosts competed for fatty acid absorption in the intestine, resulting in decreased weight gain, body fat mass, and hepatic lipid accumulation without differences in calorie intake and excretion in mice fed the probiotic bacteria.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Caco-2 Cells
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cytoprotection / drug effects
  • Fatty Acids / metabolism*
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome / physiology
  • Humans
  • Intestinal Absorption* / drug effects
  • Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus* / physiology
  • Lipid Metabolism / drug effects
  • Liver / drug effects*
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / metabolism
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / prevention & control*
  • Probiotics / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Fatty Acids