Lactobacillus plantarum is a probiotic bacterium that has been studied for its potential benefits in metabolic and liver health, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The scientific evidence supporting its use for fatty liver disease is limited but growing. Several animal studies have demonstrated that supplementation with L. plantarum can reduce liver fat accumulation, improve markers of liver function, and decrease inflammation and oxidative stress in models of NAFLD. These effects are thought to result from improvements in gut barrier function, modulation of the gut microbiota, and reduction of endotoxin translocation, all of which may reduce liver inflammation and fat deposition.

A few small clinical trials in humans have evaluated multi-strain probiotic formulations that include L. plantarum in patients with NAFLD. Some of these studies reported modest improvements in liver enzymes (ALT, AST), insulin resistance, and markers of inflammation. However, most trials use combinations of several probiotics, making it difficult to attribute benefits specifically to L. plantarum. Direct evidence from large, well-designed, placebo-controlled trials focusing solely on L. plantarum is lacking. Thus, while there is plausible scientific rationale and preliminary data, the overall strength of evidence is low to moderate at this time.