Pediatric non alcoholic fatty liver disease: more on novel treatment targets

Pietro Vajro,Maria Sangermano,Grazia Massa,Giulia Paolella,Cristina Pizza,Marco Poeta

doi:10.1186/1471-2431-13-109

Pietro Vajro, Maria Sangermano + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2431-13-109

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Journal: BMC Pediatrics	Publication Date: Jul 19, 2013
Citations: 11	License type: CC BY 2.0

Affiliation: University of Salerno

Abstract

The mainstay treatment of non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) based on weight loss and/or lifestyle changes is most often unsuccessful at all ages, thus requiring the implementation of pharmacological strategies. Targeting insulin resistance and oxidative stress has recently proven unsatisfactory. Among a number of proposed innovative approaches targeting novel pathomechanisms, probiotics appear an interesting and reasonable option acting on gut-liver axis malfunction through the modulation of diet-driven, obesogenic, and inflammatory intestinal microbiota.A combined multiple pharmacological therapy directed simultaneously towards novel and old pathomechanisms (including, e.g., insulin resistance, oxidative stress, gut-liver axis, apoptosis) along with lifestyle interventions however might be necessary both in adult and pediatric NAFLD therapy.

Highlights

The mainstay treatment of non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) based on weight loss and/or lifestyle changes is most often unsuccessful at all ages, requiring the implementation of pharmacological strategies
84081, Baronissi -Salerno, Italy probiotics as the sole treatment) became available in the literature [6,7]. Both studies showed encouraging preliminary good results upon aminotransferases activity in adults [6] and, even more, in pediatric population where a number of markers of intestinal dysbiosis and/or gut-liver axis malfunction appeared to be modulated by probiotic treatment [7]
These results, altogether, appear to nicely fit the intense network existing between gut and liver and probiotics influence [3,4] which Giorgio et al mentioned in their study [1]

Summary

Introduction

The mainstay treatment of non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) based on weight loss and/or lifestyle changes is most often unsuccessful at all ages, requiring the implementation of pharmacological strategies. Commentary The available treatment options for NAFLD at all ages are currently still far from being satisfactory. We read with much interest the article by Giorgio et al which appeared most recently in the Journal [1].

Results

Conclusion