Probiotics ameliorate endocrine disorders via modulating inflammatory pathways: a systematic review

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Immunology
• Microbiology

Background:

• Probiotics offer potential therapeutic strategies for endocrine disorders including obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome.
• The precise mechanisms of probiotic action in endocrine health remain under investigation, with immune system modulation being a key hypothesis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review evidence on the efficacy of various probiotic strains in managing endocrine disorders.
• To investigate the role of probiotics in modulating inflammatory pathways, including pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed and Scopus, including both human and animal studies.
• 25 eligible studies were selected from over 15,000 initially identified papers after independent quality assessment.
• Data on probiotic strains, endocrine conditions, and immunomodulatory effects were extracted.

Main Results:

• Lactobacillus emerged as the most frequently used probiotic, demonstrating significant therapeutic effects, especially in obesity management through immune response modulation.
• Probiotics were found to ameliorate endocrine disorders by suppressing pro-inflammatory pathways, notably reducing Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels in obesity and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) in diabetes.
• Modulation of inflammatory cytokines and other immune factors was consistently observed across studies.

Conclusions:

• Probiotics can effectively manage endocrine disorders through their immunomodulatory properties.
• Targeting inflammatory pathways, particularly by reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines like TNF-α and IL-6, is a key mechanism for probiotic benefits.
• Further research into specific probiotic strains and their precise mechanisms is warranted for optimizing therapeutic applications.