Probiotics Prevent Liver Encephalopathy

Author: Joe Fowler Time for reading: ~1 minutes Last Updated: January 27, 2026

Between 30% and 80% of people with cirrhosis have neuropsychiatric disorders that present with neurocognitive and psychomotor deficits.

New research shows that probiotics are a particularly effective drug for preventing liver encephalopathy in patients with cirrhosis.

Between 30% and 80% of people with cirrhosis have neuropsychiatric disorders that present with neurocognitive and psychomotor deficits. In other words - a serious weakening of brain function.

This condition is known as minimal liver ( hepatic ) entsefalopaiya.

The results of the latest meta-analysis indicate that probiotics have the potential to become the treatment of choice in these patients. The discovery is the work of scientists from New Delhi, India. Their study was published yesterday in the journal Clinica l Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

NEWS_MORE_BOX

They believe that ammonia produced by the intestinal flora plays a key role in the pathogenesis of minimal hepatic encephalopathy. The liver, similar to hepatic encephalopathy, cannot eliminate toxic products .

The study included 3 studies and a total of 140 patients with minimal hepatic encephalopathy. For a period of almost half a year, some of them were treated with probiotics, and the rest - with the placebo method .

Comparing the results, it became clear that a very small percentage of people treated with probiotics developed complications of their disease compared to those treated with placebo.

In the group randomized to probiotics, a significant decrease in venous ammonia levels was observed . Probiotics affect the intestinal flora, replacing pathogenic urease-producing species with non-pathogenic neurease-producing lactobacilli.

The researchers point out that taking probiotics has not led to any side effects, and at the same time such therapy is affordable and inexpensive for all patients.

Probiotics Prevent Liver Encephalopathy

Related Articles