Probiotic supplementation and postoperative antioxidant response in patients undergoing open‑heart surgery: a...

Oxidative stress is a major contributor to postoperative complications in patients undergoing open-heart surgery. Probiotics have been suggested to enhance antioxidant defenses by modulating gut microbiota and reducing systemic inflammation. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of probiotic supplementation on oxidative stress biomarkers in patients undergoing open‑heart surgery.

A total of 37 patients with cardiovascular disease scheduled for open‑heart surgery were initially recruited, with 18 allocated to the intervention group and 19 to the control group. The intervention, consisting of probiotic supplementation, began 1 day before surgery and continued for 2 weeks, while the control group received a placebo for the same duration. Plasma levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were measured at baseline and at the end of the intervention using ELISA and colorimetric methods, respectively.

The intervention group had a significant increase in TAC levels from 221.52 ± 24.68 to 356.23 ± 34.57, whereas the control group experienced a decrease from 220.73 ± 14.12 to 209.68 ± 14.83 (F = 15.794; P < 0.001). No significant change was found regarding the effect of probiotic supplementation on the level of MDA.

Probiotic supplementation may improve the postoperative antioxidant status in patients undergoing open-heart surgery. Probiotics may serve as an adjunctive therapy to enhance antioxidant defenses and mitigate postoperative oxidative stress. Further large-scale studies are warranted.