Microbiota, alcohol and liver

Alcoholic liver disease can be divided into overlapping phases with distinct pathological and clinical features. The severe stages, including acute steatohepatitis and cirrhosis, are associated with a high mortality risk. Alcohol consumption together with gut microbiota activity increase gut permeability, leading to the passage of bacterial components which may trigger liver inflammation. Alcohol consumption is thought to change gut microbiota composition. However, only a fraction of alcoholic patients display a dysbiosis, associated with increased gut permeability. Probiotic treatments have been proven to reduce alcohol-induced liver injury in animal models and in humans.