Kefir and Intestinal Microbiota Modulation: Implications in Human Health

Abstract

In the last decades changes in the pattern of health and disease in Latin America and in the world has been observed, with an increase in cases of chronic non-communicable diseases. Changes in intestinal microbiota composition can contribute to the development of these diseases and be useful in their management. In this context, the consumption of fermented foods with probiotic properties, such as kefir, stands out due to its gut microbiota-modulating capacity. There is an increasing interest in the commercial use of kefir since it can be marketed as a natural beverage containing health-promoting bacteria and has been gaining international popularity in Latin America. Also the consumption of these drinks in Latin America seems to be even more relevant, given the socioeconomic situation of this population, which highlights the need for disease prevention at the expense of its treatment. In this narrative review, we discuss how kefir may work against obesity, diabetes mellitus, liver disease, cardiovascular disorders, immunity, and neurological disorders. Peptides, bioactive compounds and strains occurring in kefir, can modulate gut microbiota composition, low-grade inflammation and intestinal permeability, which consequently may generate health benefits. Kefir can also impact on the regulation of organism homeostasis, with a direct effect on the gut-brain axis, being a possible strategy for the prevention of metabolic diseases. Further studies are needed to standardize these bioactive compounds and better elucidate the mechanisms linking kefir and intestinal microbiota modulation. However, due to the benefits reported, low cost and ease of preparation, kefir seems to be a promising approach to prevent and manage microbiota-related diseases in Latin America and the rest of the world.

Modulation of hepatic mRNA-miRNA panel linked to NAFLD/NASH Hippo signaling and gut microbiota after administration of kefir in Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis Rat Model

“…Moreover, the serum levels of ALT and AST, and the hepatic content of fat, TGFB 1 and IL 6 proteins were signi cantly reduced with the treatment of the Ke r formula compared to NASH groups. In agreement with the previous nding that Ke r can diminish the in ammatory response in association with a decrease in tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) cytokines [30].…”

Homemade Kefir Consumption Improves Skin Condition—A Study Conducted in Healthy and Atopic Volunteers

“…The consumption of kefir has been reported to positively impact the gut microbiota and overall condition of the digestive system [33,[76][77][78]. Additionally, an in vitro study suggests that kefir's passage through the human gastrointestinal tract, and its consequent digestion, can improve its nutritional profile and bioactivity [79].…”

Kefir and Its Biological Activities

“…Interestingly, the use of probiotics has been demonstrated to be efficient of stimulating homeostasis of the intestinal microbiota, and has beneficial roles leading to potential control of gut microbiome-associated diseases (antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Crohn's disease (CD), colorectal cancer (CRC)) [180,181]. This opens possibilities for regular consumption of kefir to reduce the risk of gut dysbiosis, by changing and or improving the amounts and types of probiotics that live in the gut for the prevention of metabolic diseases [182,183].…”