The Beneficial Effects of Lactobacillus GG Therapy on Liver and Drinking Assessments in Patients with Moderate Alcohol-Associated Hepatitis
Vatsalya Vatsalya, Wenke Feng, Maiying Kong, Huirong Hu, Gyöngyi Szabó, Arthur J. McCullough, Srinivasan Dasarathy, Laura E. Nagy, Svetlana Radaeva, Bruce Barton, Mack C. Mitchell, Craig J. McClain
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: We investigated the effect of daily oral Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) in reducing liver injury/severity and drinking in patients with alcohol use disorder and moderately severe alcohol-associated hepatitis. METHODS: Forty-six male and female individuals with alcohol use disorder and moderate alcohol-associated hepatitis (12 ≤ model for end-stage liver disease score < 20, aged 21-67 years) received either LGG (n = 24) or placebo (n = 22). Data were collected/assessed at baseline and at 1, 3, and 6 months. RESULTS: LGG treatment was associated with a significant reduction in liver injury after 1 month. Six months of LGG treatment reduced heavy drinking levels to social or abstinence levels. DISCUSSION: LGG treatment was associated with an improvement in both liver injury and drinking.