Bacillus coagulans–Pectin Synbiotic Modulates Gut Microbiota Composition and Attenuates Ethanol-Induced Alcoholic Liver Disease in Mice

Alcohol abuse and alcoholic liver diseases (ALD) are globally prevalent, with alcohol-induced gut microbiota dysbiosis playing a key role in ALD pathogenesis. Synbiotic (combinations of probiotics and prebiotics) are recognized as effective in reducing inflammation in ALD. <i>Bacillus coagulans</i>, a probiotic with favorable industrial and functional traits (e.g., sporulation, lactic acid production), shows potential in treating intestinal diseases. Here, we investigated the effects of <i>B. coagulans</i>, alone or combined with pectin, on ethanol-induced ALD in mice. Synbiotic supplementation (<i>B. coagulans</i> + pectin) more significantly alleviated ethanol-induced ALD severity than <i>B. coagulans</i> or pectin alone. Relative to the ethanol group, synbiotic treatment significantly reduced hepatic inflammatory injury and lipid accumulation, downregulated proinflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-1β, myeloperoxidase [MPO]), and upregulated tight junction proteins and mucins-enhancing intestinal barrier function. Moreover, these supplements modulated gut microbiota composition and enhanced short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) production by increasing the abundance of beneficial SCFA-producing bacteria (<i>Muribaculaceae</i>, <i>Akkermansia</i>). In summary, changes in tight junction proteins, cytokines and hepatic injury markers indicate that the synbiotic alleviated overall inflammation in the experimental ALD model and exerted a greater therapeutic effect than <i>B. coagulans</i> or pectin alone.