[Probiotics: benefits and harms].

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Gastroenterology
• Immunology

Background:

• Probiotics, including Lactobacillus spp. and Bifidobacterium spp., represent a significant segment of the food and pharmaceutical industries.
• Commonly used probiotic genera include Enterococcus spp., Streptococcus spp., and Saccharomyces spp. yeasts.
• Probiotics are explored for conditions such as Clostridioides difficile colitis, antibiotic-associated diarrhea, atopic syndromes, autoimmune diseases, obesity, diabetes, and cystic fibrosis, particularly where dysbiosis is implicated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current landscape of probiotic applications.
• To highlight the debated efficacy and overlooked side effects of probiotic use.
• To underscore the role of dysbiosis in various health conditions.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of current probiotic research and industry trends.
• Analysis of established and proposed indications for probiotic supplementation.
• Examination of the scientific debate surrounding probiotic effectiveness and safety.

Main Results:

• Lactobacillus spp., Bifidobacterium spp., Enterococcus spp., Streptococcus spp., and Saccharomyces spp. are key probiotic microorganisms.
• Probiotics show promise for treating C. difficile colitis and antibiotic-associated diarrhea.
• Evidence for other applications like atopic syndromes, autoimmune diseases, and metabolic disorders remains under investigation.

Conclusions:

• The widespread use of probiotics is not fully supported by robust clinical data.
• Further research is essential to validate the efficacy and safety of probiotics for diverse health conditions.
• Understanding the role of dysbiosis is crucial for optimizing probiotic therapy.