Efficacy of Lactoferrin in Prevention of Premature Rupture of Membrane

Fathi, Manar Abdelhafeez; Ali, Ali El-Shabrawy; Mohammed, Ahmed Ismail

doi:10.21608/ejhm.2021.190182

Cited by 1 publication

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References 16 publications

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“…In all studies, clinical and histological improvements were registered. The protein-optimized equilibrium of the vaginal ecosystem, due to the higher participation of symbiotic bacteria and a decline of pathogenic or relatively pathogenic microorganisms, ameliorated the inflammatory process and protected patients against threatening complications, such as PROM and preterm delivery [ 86 , 113 , 114 , 115 , 116 , 117 , 118 , 119 , 120 , 121 , 122 , 123 , 124 , 125 , 126 , 127 ]. The results of the clinical trials in women, involving the application of LF for vaginal infections and inflammation, are described in Table 1 .…”

Section: Antimicrobial and Prebiotic Activity Of Lactoferrin In The Genital Tract—in Vivo Testsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Antimicrobial and Prebiotic Activity of Lactoferrin in the Female Reproductive Tract: A Comprehensive Review

Artym

Zimecki

2021

Biomedicines

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Women’s intimate health depends on several factors, such as age, diet, coexisting metabolic disorders, hormonal equilibrium, sexual activity, drug intake, contraception, surgery, and personal hygiene. These factors may affect the homeostasis of the internal environment of the genital tract: the vulva, vagina and cervix. This equilibrium is dependent on strict and complex mutual interactions between epithelial cells, immunocompetent cells and microorganisms residing in this environment. The microbiota of the genital tract in healthy women is dominated by several species of symbiotic bacteria of the Lactobacillus genus. The bacteria inhibit the growth of pathogenic microorganisms and inflammatory processes by virtue of direct and multidirectional antimicrobial action and, indirectly, by the modulation of immune system activity. For the homeostasis of the genital tract ecosystem, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory peptides, as well as proteins secreted by mucus cells into the cervicovaginal fluid, have a fundamental significance. Of these, a multifunctional protein known as lactoferrin (LF) is one of the most important since it bridges innate and acquired immunity. Among its numerous properties, particular attention should be paid to prebiotic activity, i.e., exerting a beneficial action on symbiotic microbiota of the gastrointestinal and genital tract. Such activity of LF is associated with the inhibition of bacterial and fungal infections in the genital tract and their consequences, such as endometritis, pelvic inflammation, urinary tract infections, miscarriage, premature delivery, and infection of the fetus and newborns. The aim of this article is to review the results of laboratory as well as clinical trials, confirming the prebiotic action of LF on the microbiota of the lower genital tract.

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