Association between bile acid/short-chain fatty acid metabolic disorders and hepatic encephalopathy based on the traditional Chinese medicine theory of Yin and Yang

Luyi YAN; Weiyu CHEN; Han WANG; Wenqian FENG; Yang DU; Xueru TIAN; Yang HONG; Dewen MAO; Lei FU; Chun YAO

doi:10.12449/JCH250733

Volume 41 Issue 7

Jul. 2025

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Article Navigation > Journal of Clinical Hepatology > 2025 > 41(7): 1443-1449

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Association between bile acid/short-chain fatty acid metabolic disorders and hepatic encephalopathy based on the traditional Chinese medicine theory of Yin and Yang

DOI: 10.12449/JCH250733

1.
Graduate School，Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine，Nanning 530200，China
2.
Teaching Experiment and Training Center，Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine，Nanning 530200，China
3.
Department of Internal Medicine of Traditional Chines Medicine
4.
Department of Hepatology，The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine，Nanning 530023，China

Research funding:

National Natural Science Foundation of China (82260899);

Guangxi Traditional Chinese Medicine and Zhuang Yao Medicine Interdisciplinary Innovation Team (GZKJ2301);

Guangxi Key Research and Development Plan Project (Guike AB22035076);

Guangxi Research Team of TCM Diagnosis and Treatment of Difficult and Critical Diseases (2022A001);

Guangxi Graduate Education Innovation Program Project (YCBZ2024149);

Guangxi Graduate Education Innovation Program Project (YCSY2025051);

Guangxi Graduate Education Innovation Program Project (YCSY2025050);

Guangxi Graduate Education Innovation Program Project (YCSY2025056)

More Information

Corresponding author: YAO Chun， yaoc@gxtcmu.edu.cn （ORCID： 0000-0003-2903-8814）
Received Date: 2025-04-10
Accepted Date: 2025-05-19
Published Date: 2025-07-25

Abstract

Abstract

Hepatic encephalopathy is a neuropsychiatric syndrome secondary to severe liver disease. Recent studies have shown that the development of hepatic encephalopathy is closely associated with bile acid/short-chain fatty acid metabolic disorder. As the core theory of traditional Chinese medicine， the theory of Yin and Yang provides a unique perspective for analyzing the association between bile acids/short-chain fatty acids and hepatic encephalopathy. Bile acids function like Yang， governing the free flow of Qi and assisting in metabolic processes， while short-chain fatty acids belong to Yin， maintaining internal stability and conservation， preserving the intestinal barrier， and combating inflammation and toxins. Bile acids and short-chain fatty acids constrain each other and are interdependent to regulate the dynamic equilibrium of the gut-liver-brain axis. On this basis， by regulating the metabolic imbalance of bile acids and short-chain fatty acids， it is expected to restore the dynamic balance of Yin and Yang in patients with hepatic encephalopathy under the synergistic intervention of traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine.
- Hepatic Encephalopathy,
- Yin Yang Theory,
- Bile Acid,
- Fatty Acids

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References

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Association between bile acid/short-chain fatty acid metabolic disorders and hepatic encephalopathy based on the traditional Chinese medicine theory of Yin and Yang

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Association between bile acid/short-chain fatty acid metabolic disorders and hepatic encephalopathy based on the traditional Chinese medicine theory of Yin and Yang

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