Probiotic Combination of <i>Bifidobacterium adolescentis</i> and <i>Bifidobacterium bifidum</i> Enhances Lipophagy in MAFLD Rats

The rise in obesity and type 2 diabetes poses a major public health challenge due to its negative impact on metabolic health and increased risk of complications. Lipophagy, which targets lipid breakdown, is crucial for maintaining lipid balance and may offer therapeutic options for metabolic disorders. Recent studies suggest that probiotics like Bifidobacterium adolescentis and Bifidobacterium bifidum can positively influence lipid metabolism by affecting lipophagy. This study involved 30 male Sprague Dawley rats divided into five groups: control group, high-fat diet (HFD) plus streptozotocin (STZ) group, and three groups receiving B. adolescentis, B. bifidum, or a combination of both probiotics following HFD and STZ induction. Over a 16-week period, the effects of these probiotics on hepatic lipophagy and lipid profiles were evaluated using stereological and molecular analyses. The probiotic-treated groups exhibited significant improvements in triglyceride, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein levels. This was accompanied by an upregulation of autophagy markers (ATG7, LAMP2) and a downregulation of lipogenic markers (PLIN2, FAS, DGAT2, SREBP1). The probiotics effectively modulated lipid accumulation and prevented weight gain. Notably, stereological analysis indicated preserved liver architecture and a reduction in pathological alterations in the treated groups. The results suggest that B. adolescentis and B. bifidum might enhance hepatic lipophagy and consequently reduce lipid accumulation. This combination can improve metabolic markers, underscoring their therapeutic potential for managing obesity and diabetes. Further research is needed to clarify the specific pathways involved and to assess the clinical applicability of these probiotics in the management of metabolic disorders.