Evidence of the Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Probiotics and Synbiotics in Intestinal Chronic Diseases

Abstract

Probiotics and synbiotics are used to treat chronic diseases, principally due to their role in immune system modulation and the anti-inflammatory response. The present study reviewed the effects of probiotics and synbiotics on intestinal chronic diseases in in vitro, animal, and human studies, particularly in randomized clinical trials. The selected probiotics exhibit in vitro anti-inflammatory properties. Probiotic strains and cell-free supernatants reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines via action that is principally mediated by toll-like receptors. Probiotic administration improved the clinical symptoms, histological alterations, and mucus production in most of the evaluated animal studies, but some results suggest that caution should be taken when administering these agents in the relapse stages of IBD. In addition, no effects on chronic enteropathies were reported. Probiotic supplementation appears to be potentially well tolerated, effective, and safe in patients with IBD, in both CD and UC. Indeed, probiotics such as Bifidobacterium longum 536 improved the clinical symptoms in patients with mild to moderate active UC. Although it has been proposed that probiotics can provide benefits in certain conditions, the risks and benefits should be carefully assessed before initiating any therapy in patients with IBD. For this reason, further studies are required to understand the precise mechanism by which probiotics and synbiotics affect these diseases.

Probiotics Ameliorate Colon Epithelial Injury Induced by Ambient Ultrafine Particles Exposure

“…However, more prolonged DEPs exposure reduced the abundance of Lactobacillus in the gut microbiota, which may have contributed to damage to the colonic epithelium. [29] Therefore, our results suggest that supplementation of the diet with probiotics may provide some protection against DEPs-related colonic injury. Lactobacillus is one of the commonly used probiotics in commercial products.…”

The Gut Microbiota and Its Implication in the Development of Atherosclerosis and Related Cardiovascular Diseases

“…It has been demonstrated that probiotics can affect the structure of gut microbiota and the interaction with the microbial community and the host health through different mechanisms [12,[193][194][195]. These effects are mediated by the direct or indirect action of probiotics and can involve the modulation of the immune system or that of remote organs like the brain and liver due to the production of metabolites finally localized in these organs [193,[196][197][198][199].…”

Lactobacillus helveticus and Lactobacillus plantarum modulate renal antioxidant status in a rat model of fructose-induced metabolic syndrome

“…Probiotics are currently defined as nonpathogenic microorganisms and have been reported to improve metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes through modulation of intestinal microorganisms [17,18]. Their beneficial health effects could be attributed to their antiinflammatory and immunoregulatory properties [19]. Some probiotic strains were shown to induce significant antioxidant activity through action on superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) [20].…”