Probiotic Bifidobacterium lactis Probio-M8 treated and prevented acute RTI, reduced antibiotic use and hospital stay in hospitalized young children: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

Abstract

Purpose The development of probiotics has seen tremendous growth over the years, with health benefits ranging from gut health to respiratory. We thus aimed to investigate the effects of probiotic Bifidobacterium lactis Probio-M8 (2 × 10 10 log CFU/day) against acute respiratory tract infections (RTI), use of antibiotics, hospitalization period and elucidate the possible mechanisms of action in hospitalized young children. Method A prospective, randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study was performed in RTI-hospitalized children. Patients were randomized to either the probiotic (n = 60, mean age 13.81 ± 0.90 months) or placebo (n = 60, mean age 12.11 ± 0.73 months) which were administered upon admission, continued during hospitalization and 4-week post-discharged. RTI and gut health parameters were assessed at these time points using validated questionnaires while concentrations of inflammatory cytokines were assessed via oral swabs. Results Probio-M8 reduced the duration of nasal, pharyngeal and general flu-like symptoms compared to the placebo during the hospitalization period and 4-week post-discharged (P < 0.05) as compared to the placebo, with a more prevalent effect against lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI). Probio-M8 reduced prescription of antibiotic (P = 0.037), prevented new prescription of antibiotic in non-prescribed patients (P = 0.024) and reduced hospitalization period in antibiotic-prescribed patients (P = 0.004) as compared to the placebo. Oral cytokine levels of TNF-α decreased in the Probio-M8 group (P = 0.001) accompanied by increased in IL-10 (P = 0.018) over 4-week post-discharged, while the placebo group did not exhibit such an effect. Increased IL-10 in the Probio-M8 group was correlated with decreased body ache (r = − 0.296, P = 0.001), headache (r = − 0.295, P = 0.001) and pain during swallow (r = − 0.235, P = 0.010). Conclusion Data from our present study show that B. lactis Probio-M8 could be a potential natural and non-drug strategy for the management of RTI in young children in a safe manner. Clinical trial registration Clinical studies (Approval No. USM/JEPeM/19030177) were registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (Identifier No. NCT04122495) on September 30, 2019.

The Probiotic Lactobacillus paracasei Ameliorates Diarrhea Cause by Escherichia coli O8via Gut Microbiota Modulation1

“…Hence, L. paracasei inhibits diarrhea by modulating the NF-κB-MLCK pathway. Another report indicated that Probio-M8 had anti-inflammatory efficacy ( 42 ). Based on our findings, we speculated that diarrhea prevention by L. paracasei is associated with the inhibition of NF-κB-MLCK upregulation and a decrease in the dysregulation of the epithelial barrier.…”

“…Prior reports showed that several single strains have been used to treat various diseases by regulating the intestinal microbiota. Bifidobacterium lactis Probio -M8 prevented and treated acute respiratory tract infections and shortened the duration of nasal, pharyngeal, and flu-like symptoms ( 42 ). Bifidobacterium bifidum G9-1 improved gastrointestinal symptoms in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) ( 43 ).…”

Probiotics for immunomodulation in prevention against respiratory viral infections with special emphasis on COVID-19

“…Both viable and non-viable immunobiotics (cytoplasm, cell wall and exopolysaccharides) were reported to influence positively immune function [35] , [36] and to decline the severity of infections in gastrointestinal [37] as well in respiratory tracts [38] , [39] . Indeed, lactic acid bacteria were shown to have potential to improve human and animal health via modulation of mucosal and systemic immune responses [40] .…”

“…Probiotics are usually recommended to general consumer to improve health, but immunobiotics such as some lactobacilli [42] and bifidobacteria [37] could be particularly useful to enhance immune responses in infants or elderly. Additionally, such probiotics could be helpful to people with dysbiosis (microbiota imbalance) caused by antibiotics intake, stress, exposure to toxins, disease, excessive exercise, etc.…”

The Role of Gut Bacteriome in Asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Obstructive Sleep Apnoea

“…In addition, obese mice fed with Lactobacillus gasseri exhibited better anti-microbial response [115]. Moreover, it was observed that Probio-M8 reduced the duration of flu-like symptoms compared with more prevalent anti-inflammatory effects against lower respiratory tract infections [116].…”