Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are the main probiotic microorganisms in the human gastrointestinal tract, and their safety in food is recognized globally. Exploring the mechanisms by which LAB mitigate liver injury is crucial for their appropriate application. Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) can be alleviated by improving intestinal epithelial barrier function, controlling lipid metabolism, downregulating inflammatory mediators, and reducing oxidative stress. These mechanisms play important roles in the positive effects of LAB in alleviating liver injury, providing a systematic theoretical basis and practical basis for the clinical application of these bacteria. Future research should focus on transitioning LAB-based interventions for ALD from mechanistic exploration to precision applications. This transition will require a concerted effort in screening functional strains with well-defined molecular targets, developing characterized postbiotic formulations, and rationally designing synergistic symbiotic systems. Nevertheless, the strain-specific effects, potential safety concerns in advanced liver disease, and the need for validation in large-scale, endpoint-driven clinical trials remain significant challenges. To address these challenges, the application of intelligent delivery platforms and multidisciplinary strategies will be critical to achieving the ultimate goal of efficient translation into clinical-grade functional foods.
Huo et al. (Fri,) studied this question.