Probiotics for Brain Health, Kids, and Respiratory Infections

Which Conditions the New Probiotic Studies Cover

 

Ulcerative Colitis

A study aimed to evaluate the effect of probiotic supplementation for patients with mild-to-moderately active ulcerative colitis (UC), 

The parameters:

• 24 mild-to-moderate UC patients were randomized to placebo or lacto/bifido probiotics (10 billion CFU/day).

The results:

• Compared to placebo, the probiotic group led to: 
  • Reduced UC severity score (1.3 points vs 3.4 points) 
    • <2 = clinical remission 
  • Reduced C-reactive protein 
  • Reduced stool frequency 
  • Improved anemia

 

Acute Gastroenteritis in Kids

A meta-analysis explored the efficacy and safety of Saccharomyces boulardii (S. boulardii) for treating acute gastroenteritis in children aged under five.

The parameters:

• The meta-analysis included 10 studies featuring 1,282 children with acute gastroenteritis, randomized to control or S. boulardii.

The results:

• Compared to placebo, S. boulardii led to: 
  • 48% reduced risk of diarrhea lasting more than 3 days after starting treatment
  • 30% reduced risk of diarrhea lasting more than 1 day after starting treatment
  • Reduced duration of diarrhea (-20 hours) 
  • Reduced hospital stay (-0.9 days) 

 

Aspirin-Related Small Intestinal Mucosal Injury

A study investigates the effects of Lactobacillus complex capsule treatment on the aspirin-related small intestinal mucosal injury.

The parameters:

• 53 patients with aspirin-induced small intestinal mucosal injury were  randomized to aspirin only or aspirin and probiotics (lactobacillus species and enterococcus faecium).

The results:

• After 2 months, probiotic supplementation led to improved:
  • Mucosal injury scores 
  • Small intestinal ulcers

 

Parkinson’s Disease

A systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the effects of probiotics on Parkinson’s disease.

The parameters:

• There were a total of 8 studies on Parkinson’s disease patients.
  • 4 out of 8 of these studies were on Parkinson’s disease patients with constipation.

The results:

• Treatment with probiotics led to: 
  • Improved bowel movement frequency
  • Improved stool consistency 
  • Reduced hs-CRP 

 

Cognitive Function in the Elderly Population

A systematic review and meta-analysis explores the connection between probiotic supplementation and cognitive function.

The parameters:

• There were a total of 10 studies reviewed.

The results:

• In elderly participants, probiotics led to:
  • No improvement in cognitive function
  • No significant increase in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) 
  • Increased glutathione 

 

Pediatric Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

A systematic review and meta-analysis provides a summary of the current literature about the efficacy of probiotics in pediatric nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

The parameters:

• The study included four randomized controlled trials with 238 pediatric patients with NAFLD.

The results:

• Probiotic supplementation led to improvements in: 
  • ALT
  • AST
  • Triglycerides and total cholesterol
  • Fat accumulation in the liver, based on ultrasound

 

Upper Respiratory Tract Infections

A study looks at the effectiveness and safety of probiotics in the prevention of acute upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs). 

The parameters:

• The study included 23 randomized controlled trials with 6,950 participants randomized to placebo or probiotics (Lactobacillus).

The results:

• Probiotics led to: 
  • 33% reduced number of people diagnosed with URTI
  • Reduced duration of URTI
  • 42% less antibiotics required for acute URTI 

A study evaluated the effect of probiotic Bacillus clausii UBBC-07 on symptom management of URTIs in children

The parameters:

• 90 children were randomized to placebo or soil-based probiotic.

The results:

• After 6 months, soil-based probiotics reduced upper respiratory tract infection:
  • Frequency
  • Duration
  • Severity

A study aimed to demonstrate that nasal-spraying probiotics are effective at treating acute respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection symptoms. 

The parameters:

• 86 children (4 months–5 years old) hospitalized with RSV infection were randomized to placebo nasal spray or Bacillus probiotic nasal spray.

The results:

• After 6 days of treatment, probiotic nasal spray led to: 
  • Quicker resolution of runny nose, difficulty breathing, chest depression, and abnormal lung sounds. 
  • Reduced RSV nasopharyngeal load by 630x. 
  • Greater clearance of nasal co-infections like strep pneumoniae and haemophilus influenzae

 

Glycemic Status and Glucose Metabolism

A meta-analysis investigated the effects of supplementation with probiotics on glycemic markers. 

The parameters:

• 48 randomized controlled trials were incorporated in the meta-analysis.

The results:

• Probiotics led to: 
  • Insulin resistance
  • Insulin
  • Fasting glucose
  • A1c 

A meta-analysis further analyzed the effects of probiotic supplementation on glucose metabolism in pregnant women without diabetes. 

The parameters:

• 12 randomized controlled trials featured 2, 213 pregnant women without diabetes.

The results:

• Probiotics led to: 
  • 38% lower risk of developing gestational diabetes
  • Lower fasting glucose
  • Lower insulin
  • Lower insulin resistance
  • No change in oral glucose tolerance test

 

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

A study aimed to confirm the efficacy of probiotics in the management of gastrointestinal symptoms in IBS-C. 

The parameters:

• 456 participants with IBS-C were randomized to placebo or probiotic (Saccharomyces cerevisiae).

The results:

• After 2 months, probiotic supplementation led to: 
  • Improved quality of life
  • Increased number of participants with improved abdominal pain 
  • No difference in bowel movement frequency or consistency

A meta-analysis aimed to determine if probiotic or drug interventions are effective for treating IBS. 

The parameters:

• 32 randomized controlled trials on patients with IBS were randomized to either:
  • Placebo vs probiotics (e.g. lacto/bifido, saccharomyces boulardii) 
  • Placebo vs medications (e.g.mesalazine, eluxadoline, rifaximin)

The results:

• Both medications and probiotics led to: 
  • Reduced persistence of IBS symptoms
  • Improved abdominal pain 

 

Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea

A study explored the question of, “What is the efficacy of a multispecies probiotic in the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea in children?”

The parameters:

• 350 children recently (within 24 hours) prescribed antibiotics were randomized to placebo or probiotic (Lacto/bifido blend).

The results:

• Compared to placebo, probiotics reduced the risk of diarrhea by 35%. 

 

Heavy Metal Toxicity

A study analyzed the effectiveness of probiotics in detoxifying heavy metals. 

The parameters:

• 152 participants with known heavy metal exposure (copper and nickel) were randomized to placebo yogurt or probiotic yogurt.

The results:

• After 3 months, probiotic supplementation led to a greater reduction in blood levels of copper and nickel. 

 

Adult Atopic Dermatitis

A meta-analysis looked at the role of probiotics in the treatment of adult atopic dermatitis. 

The parameters:

• 6 randomized controlled trials featured 241 patients with eczema to either placebo or probiotics.

The results:

• Probiotics led to:
  • Improved objective eczema score 
  • Improved quality of life 
  • No change in subjective symptoms

 

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)

A study analyzed the anti-inflammatory and anti-depressant effects of Lactobacillus Rhamnosus G in patients with CAD. 

The parameters:

• 96 patients with coronary artery disease and depression were randomized to:
  • Placebo
  • Only probiotics
  • Only inulin
  • Probiotics and inulin

The results:

• After 2 months, probiotics and inulin led to greater improvements in: 
  • Depression scores 
  • Anxiety scores 
  • hs-CRP
  • Lipopolysaccharide
  • TNF-α 

 

Iron Levels 

A study investigated the relationship between elevated serum iron and heat-killed Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris H61. 

The parameters:

• 29 healthy women (18-25 years old) with normal iron status were randomized to placebo or heat-killed probiotic.

The results:

• After 1 month, despite no change in iron intake, the killed probiotic group experienced improved: 
  • Serum iron
  • Ferritin 
  • Transferrin saturation

 

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

A study looked at the efficacy of multi-strain probiotics along with dietary and lifestyle modifications on PCOS. 

The parameters:

• 104 PCOS patients, all treated with dietary and exercise modifications, were randomized to placebo or synbiotics (probiotic and prebiotic).

The results:

• After 6 months, the addition of synbiotics to lifestyle treatment led to: 
  • Increased number of participants with menstrual regularity
  • Reduced total testosterone 
  • Improved waist circumference 
  • Better quality of life

 

Critical Illness 

A meta-analysis aimed to determine the safety and efficacy of probiotics or synbiotics on morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients.

The parameters:

• The meta-analysis included 65 randomized controlled trials featuring 8,483 critically ill children and adults.

The results:

• Probiotics led to: 
  • 28% reduced risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia 
  • 30% reduced risk of health-care-associated pneumonia
  • Shorter ICU stay (-1.4 days) 
  • Shorter hospital stay (-2.2 days) 
  • Shorter duration of mechanical ventilation (-2.5 days) 
  • No impact on mortality

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