Health benefits, antimicrobial activities, and potential applications of probiotics: A review.
- 2024-12-27
- Medicine 103(52)
- Amin Sepehr
- Seyedeh Tina Miri
- Shadi Aghamohammad
- Nazanin Rahimirad
- Mahnaz Milani
- Mohammad-Reza Pourshafie
- Mahdi Rohani
- PubMed: 39969286
- DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000032412
Gut microbiota and its metabolic activities can influence the physiology and pathology of the human body. It is well established that alterations in the balance of living microbiota can contribute to various health problems, such as inflammatory bowel disease and autoimmune disorders. Probiotics administered in sufficient quantities as functional food ingredients provide health benefits to hosts. They help to maintain the stability and composition of the gut microbiota and provide resistance to infection by pathogens. The most important probiotic bacteria are Lactobacillus spp. and Bifidobacteria spp., which protect the intestine through various mechanisms such as the production of organic acids and bacteriocins. Scientific and clinical research has demonstrated that probiotics play a role in modulating immune response and preventing cancer and chronic inflammatory diseases, especially in the gastrointestinal tract. This article summarizes the potential health benefits, antimicrobial activities, and purposes for which probiotics can be used as functional foods to improve human health.
Research Insights
| Supplement | Health Outcome | Effect Type | Effect Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bifidobacterium breve Bb-18 | Improved Gut Microbiota Balance | Beneficial | Moderate |
| Bifidobacterium breve Bb-18 | Modulated Immune Response | Beneficial | Moderate |
| Bifidobacterium breve Bb-18 | Reduced Risk of Chronic Inflammatory Diseases | Beneficial | Moderate |
| Bifidobacterium breve Bb-18 | Reduced Risk of Infection | Beneficial | Moderate |