In the present study, we also found that enrichments of Akkermansia and Bifidobacterium with INU treatment were positively correlated with SCFAs, but negatively associated with inflammatory indicators (LPS, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-18) and metabolic indications (TG and TC), indicating that INU could alleviate liver damage through enhancing beneficial bacteria in gut microbiota of NAFLD. This evidence concerns the gene IL18 and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.