Bacillus coagulans TCI711 Supplementation Improved Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver by Modulating Gut Microbiota: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Clinical Trial

Rong-Hong Hsieh; Yu-Ju Chien; Wen-Yi Lan; Yung-Kai Lin; Yung-Hsiang Lin; Chi-Fu Chiang; Ming-Ta Yang

doi:10.1016/j.cdnut.2024.102083

Bacillus coagulans TCI711 Supplementation Improved Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver by Modulating Gut Microbiota: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Clinical Trial

Curr Dev Nutr. 2024 Jan 19;8(3):102083. doi: 10.1016/j.cdnut.2024.102083. eCollection 2024 Mar.

Authors

Rong-Hong Hsieh¹, Yu-Ju Chien¹, Wen-Yi Lan², Yung-Kai Lin^{3

4

5}, Yung-Hsiang Lin⁶, Chi-Fu Chiang⁶, Ming-Ta Yang^{2

7}

Affiliations

¹ School of Nutrition and Health Sciences, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
² Center for General Education, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
³ Institute of Food Safety and Risk Management, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan.
⁴ Department of Food Science, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan.
⁵ Graduate Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan.
⁶ Research & Design Center, TCI Co., Ltd., Taipei, Taiwan.
⁷ Clinical Research Center, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.

Abstract

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become one of the major problems of chronic liver disease worldwide. It not only causes damage to the liver but also engenders chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis. Recent studies have shown that regulating Bacillus coagulans can improve NAFLD.

Objectives: This trial explores whether B. coagulans TCI711 (BCT) could ameliorate NAFLD.

Methods: A total of 57 patients with NAFLD were recruited through FibroScan liver fibrosis scanner and divided into placebo (n = 28) and BCT-supplemented groups (n = 29). Specifically, 1 BCT probiotic capsule was supplemented daily for 8 wk. Furthermore, the blood, stool, and fatty liver content were then examined.

Results: Parameters evaluated for liver and kidney indicators showed no side effects after supplementing BCT. A significant reduction of 8.7% in the fatty liver was achieved by effectively suppressing the grade of fatty liver as revealed by controlled attenuation parameter. BCT also regulated gut microbiota profiles, with significant increases observed in Bifidobacterium, Eubacterium, Ruminococcaceae, and Sellimonas compared with the baseline.

Conclusions: BCT may improve NAFLD by regulating gut microbiota, and parameters evaluated for liver and kidney indicate no side effects.

Keywords: Bacillus coagulans; controlled attenuation parameter; fatty liver; gut microbiota; nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.