Probiotics Supplementation in Tuberculosis: A Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Clinical Medicine
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Tuberculosis (TB) treatment involves intensive antitubercular therapy (ATT) which can cause adverse drug reactions.
• Gut microbiota dysbiosis is increasingly recognized in TB patients.
• Probiotics, live microorganisms conferring a health benefit, are being explored for their therapeutic potential in various conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review of current clinical evidence on the use of probiotics as an adjunct therapy in tuberculosis (TB).
• To synthesize findings regarding the efficacy and safety of probiotics during TB treatment.
• To identify gaps in the existing research.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature searches were performed in PubMed, Scopus, and Embase.
• Studies published between 2016 and 2023 involving probiotics in TB patients were included.
• A total of six studies met the inclusion criteria for this review.

Main Results:

• Probiotics were supplemented during the intensive phase of ATT, for durations of 3–8 weeks.
• Five of the six studies focused on pulmonary TB.
• Probiotics demonstrated potential in alleviating gastrointestinal and hepatic adverse drug reactions, modulating gut microbiota, enhancing barrier function, and influencing immune responses.

Conclusions:

• Probiotics represent a potential adjunct therapy during the intensive phase of ATT for TB.
• Observed benefits include mitigation of drug-induced side effects and modulation of host responses.
• Long-term effects and sustained benefits of probiotics in TB require further investigation through well-designed longitudinal studies.