Role of gut microbiota dysbiosis in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease among obese individuals

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is highly prevalent in obese individuals, and gut microbiota dysbiosis is increasingly recognized as a major contributor to its pathogenesis. In this cross-sectional study of 80 obese participants (40 NAFLD and 40 controls), 16S rRNA sequencing revealed significantly reduced microbial diversity in NAFLD patients (Shannon index 2.9 vs. 3.6; p=0.001), with increased Firmicutes, <i>Enterobacteriaceae</i>, and Ruminococcus, and decreased <i>Bacteroidetes</i>. These patients also showed elevated liver enzymes (ALT, AST) and inflammatory markers (TNF-α, IL-6). A strong correlation was observed between gut dysbiosis and hepatic steatosis (r=0.72; p<0.001), highlighting the potential of microbiota modulation as a therapeutic strategy for NAFLD.