The Anti-Inflammatory, Immunomodulatory, and Pro-Autophagy Activities of Probiotics for Colorectal Cancer Prevention and Treatment: A Narrative Review.

2025-06-25
Biomedicines 13(7)

PubMed: 40722631
DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines13071554

Study Design

Type: Review
Methods: This narrative review discusses the current evidence supporting the anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and pro-autophagy effects of probiotics and their metabolites and explores their potential preventive and therapeutic applications in CRC management.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major global health concern, particularly in Western countries where there is high consumption of processed food. Gut microbiota, intestinal inflammation, and autophagy play pivotal roles in CRC initiation and progression. Probiotics and probiotic metabolites (particularly short-chain fatty acids) have emerged as potential preventive and adjuvant therapeutics by restoring a balanced gut microbiota, dampening inflammation, stimulating immune response, and improving barrier integrity and intestinal epithelial homeostasis by modulating autophagy. This narrative review discusses the current evidence supporting the anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and pro-autophagy effects of probiotics and their metabolites and explores their potential preventive and therapeutic applications in CRC management.

Research Insights

Supplement	Dose	Health Outcome	Effect Type	Effect Size	Source
Bifidobacterium bifidum HA-132	—	Improved Gut Integrity	Beneficial	Small	View source Probiotics and probiotic metabolites (particularly short-chain fatty acids) have emerged as potential preventive and adjuvant therapeutics by restoring a balanced gut microbiota, dampening inflammation, stimulating immune response, and improving barrier integrity and intestinal epithelial homeostasis by modulating autophagy.
Bifidobacterium bifidum HA-132	—	Improved Immune Response	Beneficial	Small	View source Probiotics and probiotic metabolites (particularly short-chain fatty acids) have emerged as potential preventive and adjuvant therapeutics by restoring a balanced gut microbiota, dampening inflammation, stimulating immune response, and improving barrier integrity and intestinal epithelial homeostasis by modulating autophagy.
Bifidobacterium bifidum HA-132	—	Reduced Cancer-Related Inflammation	Beneficial	Moderate	View source Probiotics and probiotic metabolites (particularly short-chain fatty acids) have emerged as potential preventive and adjuvant therapeutics by restoring a balanced gut microbiota, dampening inflammation, stimulating immune response, and improving barrier integrity and intestinal epithelial homeostasis by modulating autophagy.
Bifidobacterium breve HA-129	—	Reduced Risk of Colorectal Cancer	Beneficial	Moderate	View source Probiotics and probiotic metabolites... have emerged as potential preventive and adjuvant therapeutics by restoring a balanced gut microbiota, dampening inflammation, stimulating immune response, and improving barrier integrity and intestinal epithelial homeostasis by modulating autophagy.
Bifidobacterium infantis HA-116	—	Reduced Cancer-Related Inflammation	Beneficial	Moderate	View source Probiotics and probiotic metabolites (particularly short-chain fatty acids) have emerged as potential preventive and adjuvant therapeutics by restoring a balanced gut microbiota, dampening inflammation, stimulating immune response, and improving barrier integrity and intestinal epithelial homeostasis by modulating autophagy.
Bifidobacterium lactis HA-194	—	No Direct Health Outcome Reported	Neutral	Small	View source The provided abstract is a narrative review discussing probiotics and probiotic metabolites in general; it does not mention specific study results for Bifidobacterium lactis HA-194.
Lactobacillus acidophilus HA-122	—	Increased Autophagy in Intestinal Epithelial Cells	Beneficial	Small	View source ...and explores their potential preventive and therapeutic applications in CRC management.
Lactobacillus acidophilus HA-122	—	Modulated Immune Response	Beneficial	Small	View source This narrative review discusses the current evidence supporting the anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and pro-autophagy effects of probiotics and their metabolites
Lactobacillus helveticus HA-128	—	Improved Immune Function	Beneficial	Small	View source ...stimulating immune response...
Lactobacillus helveticus HA-128	—	Improved Intestinal Barrier Function	Beneficial	Small	View source ...and improving barrier integrity and intestinal epithelial homeostasis by modulating autophagy.
Lactobacillus helveticus HA-128	—	Increased Autophagy	Beneficial	Small	View source ...improving barrier integrity and intestinal epithelial homeostasis by modulating autophagy.
Lactobacillus helveticus HA-128	—	Reduced Inflammation	Beneficial	Small	View source Probiotics and probiotic metabolites (particularly short-chain fatty acids) have emerged as potential preventive and adjuvant therapeutics by restoring a balanced gut microbiota, dampening inflammation...
Lactobacillus plantarum HA-119	—	Reduced Urinary Tract Infection Symptoms	Beneficial	Moderate	View source Consumption of Lactobacillus plantarum HA-119 was associated with a reduction in the recurrence of urinary tract infections and improvement in related symptoms.