Comparison of probiotics and lactulose in the treatment of minimal hepatic encephalopathy in rats

Table 1 Incidence of MHE, serum level of endotoxin and ammonia in three groups.

Group	Latency of BAEP I (ms)	Incidence of MHE (%)	Level of endotoxin (EU/mL)	Level of ammonia (mg/dL)
TAA	1.52±0.07	83.3(10/12)	0.36±0.04	168.33±15.44
Lactulose	1.43±0.04a	33.3(4/12)a	0.13±0.02a	110.25±7.39a
Probiotics	1.42±0.09a	33.3(4/12)a	0.13±0.03a	108.58±10.24a

^aP<0.05 vs TAA group.

Table 2 Serum content of ALT, AST, albumin and TB in three groups.

Group	ALT(IU/L)	AST(IU/L)	Albumin (g/L)	TB(mmol/L)
TAA	137.00±20.55	430.75±60.25	31.27±1.26	14.97±2.76
Lactulose	132.58±18.95	421.17±60.00	31.95±0.96	12.23±1.07
Probiotics	128.00±16.21	409.67±63.02	32.23±1.07	13.76±2.18

Table 3 Hepatic histopathology of rats in three groups.

Group	Grade 0	Grade 1	Grade 2	Grade 3	Grade 4
TAA	0	0	0	10	2
Lactulose	1	6	3	1a	0
Probiotics	1	7	2	2a	0

^aP<0.05 vs TAA group.