<i>Lactobacillus rhamnosus</i> Granules Dose-Dependently Balance Intestinal Microbiome Disorders and Ameliorate Chronic Alcohol-Induced Liver Injury

Abstract

As the functions of <i>Lactobacilli</i> become better understood, there are increasing numbers of applications for <i>Lactobacillus</i> products. Previously, we have demonstrated that <i>Lactobacillus rhamnosus</i> GG (LGG) can prevent alcoholic liver injury. LGG granules were produced by fluid bed granulation with a media composed of starch, skimmed milk powder, whey powder, microcrystalline cellulose and maltose, and LGG fermented liquid that comprised 30-50% of the total weight. We found LGG granules dose-dependently protected against chronic alcoholic liver disease. When alcohol was consumed for 8 weeks with LGG treatment during the last 2 weeks, we demonstrated that the dose dependence of LGG granules can improve alcohol-induced liver injury through decreasing the levels of lipopolysaccharide and tumor necrosis factor-<i>α</i> in serum and prevent liver steatosis by suppressing triglyceride, free fatty acid, and malondialdehyde production in liver. Alcohol feeding caused a decline in the number of both <i>Lactobacillus</i> and <i>Bifidobacterium</i>, with a proportional increase in the number of <i>Clostridium perfringens</i> in ileum, and expansion of the Gram-negative bacteria <i>Proteobacteria</i>, <i>Campylobacterales</i>, and <i>Helicobacter</i> in cecum. However, LGG granule treatment restored the content of these microorganisms. In conclusion, LGG granule supplementation can improve the intestinal microbiota, reduce the number of gram-negative bacteria, and ameliorate alcoholic liver injury.