The Potential Impact of Probiotics on Human Health: An Update on Their Health-Promoting Properties

Abstract

Probiotics, known to be live microorganisms, have been shown to improve or restore the gut microbiota, which in turn has been linked to improved health. It is believed that probiotics are the modern equivalent of a panacea, with claims that they may treat or prevent different diseases both in children and adults (e.g., from colic in babies to cardiovascular disease, respiratory infection, and cancer in adults). Ever since the early 2000s, probiotic-based fermented foods have had a resurgence in popularity, mostly due to claims made regarding their health benefits. Fermented foods have been associated with the prevention of irritable bowel syndrome, lactose intolerance, gastroenteritis, and obesity, but also other conditions such as chronic diarrhea, allergies, dermatitis, and bacterial and viral infections, all of which are closely related to an unhealthy lifestyle. Recent and ongoing developments in microbiome/microbiota science have given us new research directions for probiotics. The new types, mechanisms, and applications studied so far, and those currently under study, have a great potential to change scientific understanding of probiotics’ nutritional applications and human health care. The expansion of fields related to the study of the microbiome and the involvement of probiotics in its improvement foreshadow an era of significant changes. An expanding range of candidate probiotic species is emerging that can address newly elucidated data-driven microbial niches and host targets. In the probiotic field, new variants of microbiome-modulating interventions are being developed, including prebiotics, symbiotics, postbiotics, microbial consortia, live biotherapeutic products, and genetically modified organisms, with renewed interest in polyphenols, fibers, and fermented foods to ensure human health. This manuscript aims to analyze recent, emerging, and anticipated trends in probiotics (sources, doses, mechanism of action, diseases for which probiotics are administered, side effects, and risks) and create a vision for the development of related areas of influence in the field.

Research Progress of Intestinal Flora in Colorectal Cancer

“…This limitation may affect the accurate understanding of the relationship between colorectal cancer and the microbiome. But there is a tantalizing opportunity to find ways to live in harmony with our microbiome through the consumption of probiotics or fermented foods/supplements that have probiotics included in the matrix, which may provide large-scale health benefits [31].…”

LAB Antagonistic Activities and Their Significance in Food Biotechnology: Molecular Mechanisms, Food Targets, and Other Related Traits of Interest

“…It is essential for these probiotics to maintain their viability and metabolic functions throughout all stages of food processing, from production to consumption [5]. The regular consumption of probiotic foods, particularly lacto-fermented varieties, has been associated with positive effects on the immune system, reducing the risk of developing certain health conditions [6][7][8]. This improvement is attributed to continuous interactions between probiotic bacteria, which are defined as "live microorganisms that, when administered in sufficient quantities, provide health benefits to the host" [9], and the intestinal microbial composition, which enhances the host immune system.…”

The Impact of Probiotics Co-administration with Antibiotics on Health

“…Probiotics, defined as live microorganisms that confer health benefits when administered in adequate amounts, have been proposed as a complementary strategy to antibiotics to restore microbial balance and prevent or alleviate antibiotic-induced complications (Maftei et al, 2024). Probiotics exert their effects through diverse mechanisms, including competitive exclusion of pathogens, production of antimicrobial substances, modulation of immune responses, and enhancement of gut barrier function.…”