Mechanism of NAFLD-associated Intestinal Barrier Damage and Traditional Chinese Medicine Intervention Strategies Based on "Turbid Pathogenic Factors Entering the Blood" Theory
10.13422/j.cnki.syfjx.20250815
- VernacularTitle:基于“浊邪入血”理论探讨非酒精性脂肪性肝病相关性肠道屏障损伤机制及中药干预策略
- Author:
Haoyang QIN
1
;
Lei LUO
1
;
Mengge LI
1
;
Xueqian KONG
2
;
Fanghua ZHANG
2
;
Zhongqin DANG
1
;
Zhibo DANG
1
Author Information
1. Henan Province Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine，Zhengzhou 450002，China
2. Henan University of Chinese Medicine，Zhengzhou 450046，China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
non-alcoholic fatty liver disease;
intestinal barrier;
theory of turbid pathogenic factors entering the blood;
integration of traditional approach and modern approach
- From:
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae
2026;32(1):277-287
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Intestinal barrier damage is a prominent feature of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease （NAFLD） and serves as a critical factor driving the progression from simple fatty liver to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis （NASH）， fibrosis， and cirrhosis. The "turbid pathogenic factors entering the blood" theory integrates classical traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） principles with contemporary disease evolution trends and research findings. It posits that endogenous turbid pathogenic factors within the body infiltrate the blood vessels， leading to impure and viscous blood quality， thereby triggering various diseases. Based on this theory， this article elucidated the pathogenic mechanism of NAFLD-associated intestinal barrier damage. It argued that in NAFLD， the liver loses its dredging function， and the spleen becomes obstructed and dysfunctional. Moreover， essential nutrients fail to be properly transformed， resulting in the internal generation of turbid pathogenic factors. This subsequently initiates a series of pathological changes， namely， "infiltration of phlegm-turbidity into the blood， eroding the intestinal mucosa"， "infiltration of glucose-turbidity into the blood， macerating and eroding the intestinal mucosa"， "infiltration of heat-turbidity into the blood， scorching and eroding the intestinal mucosa"， and "infiltration of stasis-turbidity into the blood， stagnating and eroding the intestinal mucosa"， ultimately causing intestinal barrier damage. Furthermore， guided by the "turbid pathogenic factors entering the blood" theory， this article explored TCM intervention strategies： employing medicinals targeting the liver meridian to address the root cause and reduce the generation and deposition of turbid pathogenic factors in the liver， administering blood-system medicinals to clear the blood and purge turbidity， thereby intercepting the progression of the disease mechanism， and applying tonifying medicinals to bolster healthy Qi and defend against turbid invasion， allowing the damaged intestinal mucosa to gradually heal. This article presented novel theoretical and medicinal perspectives for analyzing NAFLD-associated intestinal barrier damage based on the "turbid pathogenic factors entering the blood" theory， aiming to provide new entry points and broader horizons for related research and clinical practice.
