Conclusion The systematic review and meta- analysis support that probiotics are superior to placebo in NAFLD patients and could be utilized as a common complementary therapeutic approach
Background and Aims Probiotics was considered as a potential therapy for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease ( NAFLD ) without approval and comprehensive assessment in recent years , which call for a meta- analysis .
Consistent Estimation in Mendelian Randomization with Some Invalid Instruments Using a Weighted Median Estimator
ABSTRACT Developments in genome‐wide association studies and the increasing availability of summary genetic association data have made application of Mendelian r and omization relatively straightforward . However , obtaining reliable results from a Mendelian r and omization investigation remains problematic , as the conventional inverse‐variance weighted method only gives consistent estimates if all of the genetic variants in the analysis are valid instrumental variables . We present a novel weighted median estimator for combining data on multiple genetic variants into a single causal estimate . This estimator is consistent even when up to 50 % of the information comes from invalid instrumental variables . In a simulation analysis , it is shown to have better finite‐ sample Type 1 error rates than the inverse‐variance weighted method , and is complementary to the recently proposed MR‐Egger ( Mendelian r and omization‐Egger ) regression method . In analyses of the causal effects of low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol and high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol on  coronary artery disease risk , the inverse‐variance weighted method suggests a causal effect of both lipid fractions , whereas the weighted median and MR‐Egger regression methods suggest a null effect of high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol that corresponds with the experimental evidence . Both median‐based and MR‐Egger regression methods should be considered as sensitivity analyses for Mendelian r and omization investigations with multiple genetic variants
Conclusion The systematic review and meta- analysis support that probiotics are superior to placebo in NAFLD patients and could be utilized as a common complementary therapeutic approach
Background and Aims Probiotics was considered as a potential therapy for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease ( NAFLD ) without approval and comprehensive assessment in recent years , which call for a meta- analysis .