Probiotics in Medicine: A Long Debate

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Immunology
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Probiotics are gaining clinical attention for disease prevention and treatment.
• They modulate gut microbiota, influencing health via gut-liver, gut-brain, and gut-lung axes.
• Imbalances in gut microbiota are linked to infections, autoimmune conditions, and allergies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the diverse clinical applications of probiotics.
• To highlight the role of probiotics in managing respiratory infections and COVID-19.
• To assess the current evidence for probiotic efficacy and safety.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of existing literature on probiotic applications.
• Analysis of proposed mechanisms of action for probiotics.
• Discussion of clinical evidence for probiotic use in various disorders.

Main Results:

• Strong evidence supports probiotics for gastrointestinal disorders, antibiotic-associated diarrhea, allergies, and respiratory infections.
• Probiotics enhance mucosal barrier function and modulate immune responses.
• Potential adjuvant role in managing COVID-19 symptoms is explored.

Conclusions:

• Probiotics offer a promising therapeutic approach for maintaining gut balance and improving immunity.
• Further large-scale clinical studies are essential to establish robust evidence for their efficacy and safety.
• Probiotics may serve as an effective adjuvant therapy in various clinical settings.