A review of synbiotic efficacy in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease as a therapeutic approach

Abstract According to recent epidemiological studies, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease in the worldwide. Pathophysiological pathways and mechanisms involved in NAFLD are not fully clear, but Inflammation, insulin resistance, oxidative stress, obesity and dyslipidemia are among the main causes of NAFLD. There is still no standard drug for the treatment of NAFLD. Diet modification, weight loss and physical activity are considered as the main treatment line for this disease. It has been shown that gut microbiota imbalance is associated with the main factors causing of NAFLD. Synbiotics, which have positive effects on the balance of gut microbiota, are a combination of prebiotics and probiotics. It is believed that the consumption of synbiotics can help to treatment of NAFLD through effect on gut microbiota and subsequently improving the risk factors of this disease. The purpose of this review is to investigate the effects of synbiotics on the main causes of NAFLD based on existing evidence, especially the clinical effects of synbiotics supplementation in patients with NAFLD.