Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an insidious disease, which leads to the deposition of lipid within the hepatic parenchyma. It affects different age groups in Egypt—including children. Its degree of severity range from steatosis to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which later could progress into life-threatening diseases such as cirrhosis and hepatic malignancy. Progression towards inflammation of the steatotic liver was initially proposed to be related to endotoxemia as a result of increased gut permeability. Subsequently, there is some evidence that intestinal microbiota plays an important part in the pathogenesis of NAFLD.
Aim of the work: To detect possible relation of lactobacillus acidophilus to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in a sample of Egyptian population.
Patients and methods: The current study included 60 subjects. They were divided in to Group 1: included 20 obese subjects with NAFLD; Group 2 :included 20 lean subjects with NAFLD; Group 3: included 20 healthy subjects as a control group. Identification of stool lactobacillus acidophilus by quantitative real time PCR technique and abdominal ultrasound for diagnosis of NAFLD.
Results: There was non significant difference between studied groups as regard lactobacillus acidophilus concentration in stool P= 0.986. There was non significant elevation of ALT and AST in NAFLD obese subjects in positive PCR group compared to other groups
Conclusions: Still there is controversy about the role of lactobacillus acidophilus in the pathogenesis of NAFLD