Abstract
Alcohol abuse and alcoholic liver diseases (ALD) are globally prevalent, with alcohol-induced gut microbiota dysbiosis playing a key role in ALD pathogenesis. Synbiotic (combinations of probiotics and prebiotics) are recognized as effective in reducing inflammation in ALD. Bacillus coagulans, a probiotic with favorable industrial and functional traits (e.g., sporulation, lactic acid production), shows potential in treating intestinal diseases. Here, we investigated the effects of B. coagulans, alone or combined with pectin, on ethanol-induced ALD in mice. Synbiotic supplementation (B. coagulans + pectin) more significantly alleviated ethanol-induced ALD severity than B. coagulans or pectin alone. Relative to the ethanol group, synbiotic treatment significantly reduced hepatic inflammatory injury and lipid accumulation, downregulated proinflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-1β, myeloperoxidase [MPO]), and upregulated tight junction proteins and mucins-enhancing intestinal barrier function. Moreover, these supplements modulated gut microbiota composition and enhanced short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) production by increasing the abundance of beneficial SCFA-producing bacteria (Muribaculaceae, Akkermansia). In summary, changes in tight junction proteins, cytokines and hepatic injury markers indicate that the synbiotic alleviated overall inflammation in the experimental ALD model and exerted a greater therapeutic effect than B. coagulans or pectin alone.