AKT1 and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: In summary, the results suggest that regulating the intestinal microbiota and restoring the barrier of the gut to inhibit the LPS/NF-κB signaling pathway may be the potential underlying mechanism for L. plantarum ZDY2013 restraining the progression of NAFLD, thereby decreasing inflammatory cytokine levels, relieving IR, regulating the PI3K/Akt pathway to decrease hepatic lipid accumulation, restoring liver function, and ameliorating oxidative stress.