Probiotics for the Prevention of Acute Respiratory-Tract Infections in Older People: Systematic Review

Abstract

The aim of this systematic review was to present the indirect influence of probiotics on the incidence and duration of acute upper respiratory-tract infections in older people, by regulating the immune system. Eight randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials met the inclusion criteria, considering the threshold of older people being 60 years and over. Single strain probiotics were used in all studies, including three probiotic strains used in fermented foods: Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus OLL1073R-1, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei CNCM I-1518 and Lacticaseibacillusparacasei Shirota, and three probiotic strains used as food supplements: Loigolactobacillus coryniformis K8 CECT5711, Bacillus subtilis CU1 and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG. Current evidence showed that certain probiotic strains were better than a placebo in lowering the incidence or number of older people experiencing acute upper respiratory tract infections; however, not all probiotic strains were efficient, and not all studies reported statistically significant outcomes. More high quality large-scale properly controlled clinical studies focusing on older people are warranted.

Efficacy of Direct or Indirect Use of Probiotics for the Improvement of Maternal Depression during Pregnancy and in the Postnatal Period: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…According to the consensus statement of the International Probiotic and Prebiotic association [ 17 ], several probiotics have strain-specific health benefits. This was also obvious from the investigated clinical studies where one strain: Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus HN001, used in the clinical studies by Hulkkonen et al and Slykerman et al [ 48 , 49 ] exhibited a beneficial effect on mental health, whilst another strain of the same species, namely Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG used in the study by Dawe et al [ 61 ] did not exhibit any beneficial effect on mental health compared to the placebo group.…”

“…Prebiotics are defined as a substrate selectively utilised by host microorganisms conferring a health benefit [ 11 ]. The possible applications of probiotics based on well-designed clinical trials and meta-analyses are numerous, including treatment or prevention of several disorders, such as: antibiotic and Clostridium difficile -associated diarrhoea, irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease, to anxiety, wound healing, and even depression [ 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 ]. The influence of probiotics on the gut-brain axis has been investigated in several recent clinical trials with positive results, including the improvement of psychiatric and gut-barrier-associated traits [ 18 ] and cognitive functions [ 19 ] in patients with a major depressive disorder; the mitigation of anxiety symptoms in patients with anxiety disorders [ 20 , 21 ], and the improvement of mental state, sleep quality and the gut microbiota of healthy young adults under stressful conditions [ 22 ].…”

Biotechnological Processes Simulating the Natural Fermentation Process of Bee Bread and Therapeutic Properties—An Overview

“…Multiple human and animal studies have been conducted and suggest that probiotics are GRAS and practical for clinical application on human diseases, such as acute pediatric diarrhea ( 138 ), rotavirus-related diarrhea ( 139 ), infantile colic ( 140 ), necrotizing enterocolitis in shallow birth weight infants ( 141 ), type 1 diabetes ( 142 ), allergic asthma ( 143 ) inflammatory bowel disease ( 144 ), bone loss ( 145 ), and bacterial vaginosis ( 146 ), and virus infection ( 147 ). Further details can be seen in Table 6 .…”

Probiotics in the Management of Mental and Gastrointestinal Post-COVID Symptomes

“…These include: (i) improving anti-viral responses, (ii) production of antimicrobial peptides, (iii) protection from secondary infections, and (iv) antinflammatory activity [ 39 ]. Probiotics may have antiviral activity and modulate the immune response in the event of viral infections [ 40 , 41 ], and also reduce tissue damage resulting from infection [ 42 , 43 ]. Their direct effect on SARS-CoV-2 virus is associated with the production of antiviral compounds (hydrogen peroxide, nitric oxide, bacteriocins, subtilisin), inactivation of virulence factors, blocking of virus receptors, binding of its particles, direct and indirect blocking of the renin-angiotensin system, inhibition janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription protein (STAT) signaling pathway, and inhibition of histone deacetylase [ 44 ].…”