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Review
. 2024 May 10;14(1):25.
doi: 10.1038/s41387-024-00281-7.

The effects of gut microbiome manipulation on glycemic indices in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a comprehensive umbrella review

Azin Vakilpour #  1 , Ehsan Amini-Salehi #  2 , Arman Soltani Moghadam  3 , Mohammad-Hossein Keivanlou  2   4 , Negin Letafatkar  2   4 , Arman Habibi  2   4 , Mohammad Hashemi  5 , Negar Eslami  2 , Reza Zare  6 , Naeim Norouzi  2 , Hamed Delam  6 , Farahnaz Joukar  2 , Fariborz Mansour-Ghanaei  2 , Soheil Hassanipour  7 , Sandeep Samethadka Nayak  8
Affiliations
Review

The effects of gut microbiome manipulation on glycemic indices in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a comprehensive umbrella review

Azin Vakilpour et al. Nutr Diabetes. .

Abstract

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a significant risk factor for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Increased fasting blood sugar (FBS), fasting insulin (FI), and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) are observed in patients with NAFLD. Gut microbial modulation using prebiotics, probiotics, and synbiotics has shown promise in NAFLD treatment. This meta-umbrella study aimed to investigate the effects of gut microbial modulation on glycemic indices in patients with NAFLD and discuss potential mechanisms of action.

Methods: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane Library until March 2023 for meta-analyses evaluating the effects of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics on patients with NAFLD. Random-effect models, sensitivity analysis, and subgroup analysis were employed.

Results: Gut microbial therapy significantly decreased HOMA-IR (ES: -0.41; 95%CI: -0.52, -0.31; P < 0.001) and FI (ES: -0.59; 95%CI: -0.77, -0.41; P < 0.001). However, no significant effect was observed on FBS (ES: -0.17; 95%CI: -0.36, 0.02; P = 0.082). Subgroup analysis revealed prebiotics had the most potent effect on HOMA-IR, followed by probiotics and synbiotics. For FI, synbiotics had the most substantial effect, followed by prebiotics and probiotics.

Conclusion: Probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics administration significantly reduced FI and HOMA-IR, but no significant effect was observed on FBS.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. Study selection process.
The flowchart diagram.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2. The effects of microbial therapy on FBS.
A Forest plot for the effect size and 95% confidential interval of gut microbial therapy on serum FBS level in patients with NAFLD. B The results of sensitivity analysis. C The results of publication bias with two imputed studies (red dots).
Fig. 3
Fig. 3. The effects of microbial therapy on HOMA-IR.
A Forest plot for the effect size and 95% confidential interval of gut microbial therapy on HOMA-IR in patients with NAFLD. B The results of sensitivity analysis. C The results of publication bias with three imputed studies (red dots).
Fig. 4
Fig. 4. The effects of microbial therapy on FI.
A Forest plot for the effect size and 95% confidential interval of gut microbial therapy on serum FI level in patients with NAFLD. B The results of sensitivity analysis. C The results of publication bias with three imputed studies (red dots).
Fig. 5
Fig. 5. Mechanisms of action.
Mechanisms of action on how prebiotic, probiotic, and synbiotic treatment can improve glycemic indices in patients with NAFLD by modulating gut microbiome population.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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