Probiotics as potential antioxidants: a systematic review

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Nutrition Science
• Food Science

Background:

• Probiotics are recognized for their health benefits and are commonly used as dietary supplements.
• There is growing interest in identifying probiotic strains with dual health and antioxidant benefits.
• Existing in vitro and in vivo studies suggest probiotics possess antioxidant capabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current literature on the antioxidant potential of probiotics.
• To explore the possibility of using probiotics as a source of dietary antioxidants.
• To identify future research directions for evaluating probiotic antioxidant properties.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies investigating probiotic antioxidant activity.
• Analysis of in vitro and in vivo evidence for probiotic antioxidant effects.
• Examination of the impact of probiotics on oxidative stress markers in human cells.

Main Results:

• Probiotics demonstrate antioxidant potential through mechanisms like free radical scavenging.
• Consumption of probiotics may reduce oxidative damage and influence key antioxidant enzymes.
• Incorporating probiotics into food can be a strategy for delivering dietary antioxidants.

Conclusions:

• Probiotics show promise as a source of antioxidants, contributing to overall health.
• More standardized research is required to confirm and quantify the antioxidant benefits of probiotics.
• Further studies are essential before probiotics can be widely recommended for their antioxidant effects.