The Improvement Effects of <i>Weizmannia coagulans</i> BC99 on Liver Function and Gut Microbiota of Long-Term Alcohol Drinkers: A Randomized Double-Blind Clinical TrialOriginal paper
Karen Pendergrass is a microbiome researcher specializing in microbiome-targeted interventions (MBTIs). She systematically analyzes scientific literature to identify microbial patterns, develop hypotheses, and validate interventions. As the founder of the Microbiome Signatures Database, she bridges microbiome research with clinical practice. In 2012, based on her own investigative research, she became the first documented case of FMT for Celiac Disease, four years before the first published case study.
Read MoreWhat was studied?
This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial tested whether the probiotic Weizmannia coagulans BC99 protects the liver of long-term alcohol drinkers. It examined liver function, kidney function, inflammation, and gut microbiota. Participants took BC99 or a maltodextrin placebo daily for 60 days. Blood and stool were sampled at day 1 and day 60. Gut bacteria were profiled by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, with LEfSe and random forest analyses used to identify key strains.
Who was studied?
The trial enrolled 70 long-term drinkers aged 18 to 65 in Luoyang, China, all consuming at least 20 g of alcohol per day for over a year. They were split evenly into a BC99 group and a placebo group. Sixty participants completed the study. Mean age was about 43 years, and baseline characteristics did not differ between groups. People with hepatitis, cirrhosis, hypertension, or diabetes were excluded. The probiotic dose was 3 g per day at 1 times 10 to the tenth CFU.
What were the most important findings?
After 60 days, the BC99 group showed significant drops in AST, total bilirubin, and gamma-GT (p less than 0.01). The abnormal rates of AST and gamma-GT fell from about 35 percent and 30 percent to zero. Kidney markers BUN and uric acid dropped, and the BUN to creatinine abnormality count fell from 14 to 5 subjects. BC99 lowered pro-inflammatory TNF-alpha and IL-6 (IL-6 fell over 30 percent) and raised anti-inflammatory IL-10. In the gut, BC99 raised Firmicutes and beneficial genera including Prevotella and Faecalibacterium, while reducing Proteobacteria and conditionally pathogenic bacteria.
What are the greatest implications of this study?
The results indicate that BC99 supplementation can ease alcohol-related liver injury in long-term drinkers, offering a possible protective strategy alongside efforts to reduce drinking. The benefit appears tied to rebalancing the gut microbiota, boosting short-chain fatty acid producers and curbing pro-inflammatory, endotoxin-linked bacteria. As a single-center 60-day trial with dropouts, the findings need larger and longer studies. The exact microbial metabolites driving the effect remain to be identified. The probiotic was supplied by a commercial manufacturer, Wecare Probiotics.