Researchers found that heavy drinking depletes helpful bacteria in your gut, which can damage your liver. In this study of 127 people and laboratory mice, scientists discovered that a specific type of beneficial bacteria called Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum may help repair this damage. When mice with alcohol-related liver disease received this bacteria for 8 weeks, their liver health improved significantly. The bacteria helped restore the gut’s protective barrier and reduced harmful inflammation. While these results are promising, more research in humans is needed before this becomes a standard treatment.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether adding a specific type of good bacteria back into the gut could help repair liver damage caused by heavy alcohol use
  • Who participated: 127 human subjects with alcohol-related liver disease, plus laboratory mice that were given alcohol to mimic the human condition
  • Key finding: Mice that received the beneficial bacteria B. pseudocatenulatum showed significant improvement in liver health markers, including reduced liver enlargement, less fat buildup in the liver, and lower inflammation levels after 8 weeks of treatment
  • What it means for you: This research suggests a potential new way to help people with alcohol-related liver damage, but it’s still in early stages. Don’t expect this as a treatment yet—more human studies are needed. If you drink heavily, the best approach remains reducing alcohol intake and consulting your doctor.

The Research Details

This research combined two approaches: first, scientists studied 127 people with alcohol-related liver disease to identify which gut bacteria were missing or depleted. They found that a beneficial bacteria called Bifidobacterium was significantly reduced in these patients. Next, they tested whether adding back one specific strain (B. pseudocatenulatum) could help by using laboratory mice. The mice were fed an alcohol-containing diet for 8 weeks while receiving either the beneficial bacteria or a placebo. Researchers then measured various markers of liver health and gut function to see if the bacteria made a difference.

This approach is important because it bridges human observation with controlled laboratory testing. By first identifying what’s missing in sick people and then testing whether replacing it helps in a controlled setting, scientists can better understand if the bacteria is truly responsible for the improvement. This makes the findings more reliable than just observing people or just testing in mice alone.

The study has several strengths: it included a reasonable number of human subjects (127), used a controlled animal model with proper comparison groups, and measured multiple health markers rather than just one outcome. However, the human portion was observational (watching what happens naturally) rather than experimental (giving people the bacteria). The mouse studies are more controlled but may not perfectly reflect how human bodies work. The research is recent and published in a peer-reviewed journal, which means other experts reviewed it before publication.

What the Results Show

In mice receiving the beneficial bacteria, liver health improved dramatically. The liver was smaller (less enlarged), had less fat buildup, and showed lower levels of liver damage markers in the blood. These improvements appeared after just 8 weeks of treatment. The bacteria also helped restore the gut’s protective barrier—think of it like fixing a leaky fence that was letting harmful substances through into the bloodstream. The researchers measured this by looking at specific proteins that hold the gut lining together, and these were significantly strengthened in treated mice. Additionally, the harmful bacteria that typically overgrow in people with alcohol-related liver disease were reduced, while beneficial bacteria increased, suggesting the gut microbiome was being restored to a healthier balance.

The bacteria worked partly by producing special compounds called short-chain fatty acids, which are like chemical messengers that tell the liver to stop making excess fat and to reduce inflammation. The researchers found that genes responsible for fat production in the liver were turned down in treated mice. Pro-inflammatory markers—substances that cause swelling and damage—were also significantly reduced. The overall bacterial community in the gut shifted toward a healthier composition, with increases in other beneficial bacteria like Blautia alongside the restored Bifidobacterium.

Previous research has shown that alcohol damages the gut barrier and causes an imbalance in gut bacteria (dysbiosis), which contributes to liver disease. This study builds on that knowledge by identifying a specific beneficial bacteria that may reverse some of this damage. While probiotics have been studied for various health conditions, this is one of the first studies to specifically identify and test B. pseudocatenulatum for alcohol-related liver disease. The findings align with growing evidence that gut health is closely connected to liver health.

The main limitation is that while the study included 127 human subjects, those were only observed—they didn’t receive the bacteria treatment. The actual treatment testing was done in mice, which have different biology than humans. Mice studies don’t always translate directly to human benefits. The study was also relatively short (8 weeks), so we don’t know if benefits would last longer or if there might be long-term effects. Additionally, the research doesn’t tell us the best dose, how long treatment should last, or how well it would work in people who continue drinking heavily versus those who reduce their alcohol intake.

The Bottom Line

Based on this research alone, we cannot recommend this bacteria as a treatment yet. The evidence is promising but preliminary. If you have alcohol-related liver disease, the most important steps remain: (1) reducing or eliminating alcohol consumption, (2) working with your doctor on a treatment plan, and (3) maintaining a healthy diet. In the future, if human trials confirm these results, probiotic treatment might become an additional tool your doctor could recommend alongside these primary strategies.

This research is most relevant to people with alcohol-related liver disease and their healthcare providers. It may also interest people who drink heavily and want to understand their health risks. However, people should not self-treat with this bacteria without medical supervision, as it’s not yet approved as a medical treatment. People with weakened immune systems should be especially cautious about any probiotic use and should consult their doctor first.

In the mouse studies, improvements appeared within 8 weeks. However, human bodies work differently and more slowly than mouse bodies. If this bacteria eventually becomes a medical treatment, it would likely take several months to see benefits, and people would need to continue treatment consistently. The timeline would also depend on how much liver damage has already occurred and whether the person stops drinking alcohol.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track weekly alcohol consumption (drinks per week) and any digestive symptoms (bloating, gas, bowel regularity) to establish a baseline. If this treatment becomes available, users could monitor these same metrics plus energy levels and any changes in digestion to see if the treatment is working for them personally.
  • Users could set a goal to gradually reduce alcohol intake while tracking their progress in the app. They could also log their diet, focusing on foods that naturally support good gut bacteria (like fiber-rich foods, vegetables, and fermented foods). If prescribed this probiotic in the future, the app could send reminders to take it consistently.
  • Establish a long-term tracking system that monitors: (1) alcohol consumption patterns, (2) digestive health markers, (3) energy and overall wellness, and (4) any medical test results (liver function tests if available). This creates a personal health dashboard showing whether lifestyle changes and any future treatments are working over months and years.

This research is preliminary and has not yet been tested in human treatment trials. The findings are based on laboratory studies in mice and observations in people with existing liver disease. This information should not be used to self-diagnose or self-treat alcohol-related liver disease. If you have concerns about your liver health or drink heavily, please consult with a qualified healthcare provider. Do not start any probiotic supplements without discussing it with your doctor, especially if you have a weakened immune system or are taking medications. The most effective treatment for alcohol-related liver disease remains reducing or eliminating alcohol consumption under medical supervision.