Bifidobacterium animalis

AIM: This study is a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials that employed probiotics and symbiotics for treating infantile colic. METHODS: We performed electronic systematic literature searches in Embase, PubMed and Web of Science, to identify articles published between 1950 and April 2023. Only RCT involving infants with infantile colic under 3 months were included. The treatment plan comprised 15 probiotics, which included Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 and Bifidobacterium animalis lactis BB-12. The probiotics were administered alone or in combination with a prebiotic, vs. no intervention or a placebo. RESULTS: Probiotics resulted in an average reduction of 51 min of crying per day (p = 0.001). Further analysis of subgroups showed that the reduction was -39.30 min for vaginal delivery (p = 0.003), -64.66 min for Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 (p = 0.03), -40.45 min for other strains (p < 0.00001), -74.28 min for exclusively breastfed infants (p = 0.0003) and -48.04 min for mixed feeding (p < 0.00001). CONCLUSION: All probiotic strains seem effective in treating infantile colic. Exclusively breastfed infants have demonstrated more significant reduction in crying time. However, the available evidence on the effectiveness of probiotics in formula-fed and caesarean-born infants is limited. © 2023 Foundation Acta Paediatrica. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Probiotics and synbiotics have been increasingly investigated for the management of chronic constipation. We aimed to investigate the effect of probiotics and synbiotics on stool output, gut transit time, symptoms and quality of life in adults with chronic constipation via a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). METHODS: Studies were identified using electronic databases, backward citation and hand-searching abstracts. The search date was 10 July 2022. RCTs reporting administration of probiotics or synbiotics in adults with chronic constipation were included. Risk of bias (RoB) was assessed with the Cochrane RoB 2.0 tool. Meta-analysis was conducted separately for probiotics and synbiotics. Results were synthesized using risk ratios (RRs), mean differences or standardized mean differences (SMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using a random-effects model. RESULTS: Thirty RCTs investigating probiotics and four RCTs investigating synbiotics were included. Overall, 369/647 (57%) responded to probiotic treatment and 252/567 (44%) to control (RR 1.28, 95% CI 1.07, 1.52, p = 0.007). Probiotics increased stool frequency (SMD 0.71, 95% CI 0.37, 1.04, p < 0.00001), with Bifidobacterium lactis having a significant effect, but not mixtures of probiotics, Bacillus coagulans Unique IS2 or Lactobacillus casei Shirota. Probiotics did not impact stool consistency (SMD 0.26, 95% CI -0.03, 0.54, p = 0.08). Probiotics improved integrative symptom scores compared to control (SMD -0.46, 95% CI -0.89, -0.04). Synbiotics did not impact stool output or integrative symptom scores compared to control. CONCLUSIONS: Certain probiotics may improve response to treatment, stool frequency and integrative constipation symptoms, providing cautious optimism for their use as a dietary management option. There is currently insufficient evidence to recommend synbiotics in the management of chronic constipation. Caution is needed when interpreting these results due to high heterogeneity and risk of bias amongst the studies.

CONTEXT: The effects of probiotics on gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms have been increasingly investigated, particularly that of Bifidobacterium animalis. Clinical trials so far have shown differing evidence regarding these effects in healthy adults. OBJECTIVE: To synthesize the published evidence on the effects of B. animalis subspecies lactis on GI symptoms (GIS) in healthy adults. DATA SOURCE: A search of the Medline, Embase, Lilacs, Scopus, Web of Science, ProQuest, and Google Scholar databases was conducted for reports on randomized controlled trials published up to October 2021. DATA EXTRACTION: Population characteristics and data on colonic transit time (CTT), stool consistency, defecation frequency, abdominal pain, bloating, flatulence, volunteer compliance, and adverse events were extracted. A random-effects model was used to estimate the effect of probiotic treatment on these variables. DATA SYNTHESIS: In total, 1551 studies were identified, of which 14 were included in the qualitative synthesis and 13 in the meta-analysis. Overall, probiotic supplementation increased defecation frequency (standardized mean difference [SMD], 0.26; 95%CI, 0.13-0.39). Subgroup analysis revealed a decrease in CTT (SMD, -0.34; 95%CI, -0.62 to -0.07) in short-term treatment (≤14 d) and an improvement in stool consistency (SMD, 0.76; 95%CI, 0.44-1.08) in individuals without GIS. No improvement in abdominal pain and bloating was found. CONCLUSIONS: B. animalis subspecies lactis supplementation may increase defecation frequency and, in short-term treatment, may reduce CTT in healthy adults and improve stool consistency in individuals without GIS. More high-quality randomized controlled trials are needed to develop a clinical protocol for the use of this strain to improve these symptoms. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO registration no. CRD42020154060. © The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the International Life Sciences Institute. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: [email protected].

Current literature related to the impact of probiotics on the incidence of gastrointestinal tract infections (GITIs) has shown mixed results and no systematic review available with pooled analysis exists. Thus, the aim of this systematic review was to provide contemporary evidence regarding the overall and strain-specific influence of probiotics in preventing GITIs among infants and children attending childcare centres. The review shortlisted 18 RCTs after screening through the initial search results of 779 articles. However, only 15 trials were deemed eligible, addressing at least one outcome in the pooled analysis. It is concluded that the supplementation of probiotics (overall effect) may reduce the risk of GITI episode by 26%, with Lacticaseibacillus paracasei, Limosilactobacillus reuteri and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG being specifically potent probiotic strains in reducing GITI episode, duration of infection and absence from childcare respectively. There is insufficient evidence to determine the effect of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12 based on the findings of the trials included in this review. © 2021 The Society for Applied Microbiology.

BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis is the most common chronic skin disease affecting the pediatric population. Probiotics have been proposed to be effective in preventing the development of pediatric atopic dermatitis. Although studies show promise for the use of probiotics, the evidence is still inconclusive due to significant heterogeneity and imprecision. OBJECTIVE: To determine the comparative effectiveness of the different types of probiotic strains in preventing the development of atopic dermatitis among pediatric patients. METHODOLOGY: A systematic search of Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, TRIP Database, and Centre for Research and Dissemination was conducted. Manual search of the reference lists and search for unpublished articles were also done. All randomized controlled trials available from inception until April 12, 2020, on the use of probiotics in the prevention of atopic dermatitis among children were included. The comparator groups considered are other probiotic strains and placebo. The primary outcome of interest was the development of atopic dermatitis. Two authors independently searched for articles, screened the articles for inclusion, appraised the articles using the Cochrane risk of bias tool version 2, and extracted the data. In case of disagreement, the two authors discussed the source of disagreement until consensus was reached. If consensus was not reached, an independent third party reviewer was consulted. Frequentist network meta-analysis was conducted using STATA 14 software. The ranking probabilities and surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) values were obtained to determine ranking of the different probiotic strains based on efficacy and safety data. RESULTS: We included 21 original studies represented by 35 records and a total of 5406 children with atopic dermatitis as diagnosed by clinicians or fulfillment of validated diagnostic criteria. All studies were randomized placebo-controlled trials. The top 3 probiotic preparations in terms of efficacy in reducing the risk of atopic dermatitis are Mix8 (Lactobacillus paracasei ST11, Bifidobacterium longum BL999), LP (Lactobacillus paracasei ssp paracasei F19) and Mix3 (Lactobacillus

BACKGROUND & AIMS: We aimed to compare the effectiveness of single- vs multiple-strain probiotics in a network meta-analysis of randomized trials. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, Embase, Science Citation Index Expanded, CINAHL, Scopus, Cochrane CENTRAL, BIOSIS Previews, and Google Scholar through January 1, 2019, for studies of single-strain and multistrain probiotic formulations on the outcomes of preterm, low-birth-weight neonates. We used a frequentist approach for network meta-analysis and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach to assess the certainty of evidence. Primary outcomes included all-cause mortality, severe necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) (Bell stage II or more), and culture-proven sepsis. RESULTS: We analyzed data from 63 trials involving 15,712 preterm infants. Compared with placebo, a combination of 1 or more Lactobacillus species (spp) and 1 or more Bifidobacterium spp was the only intervention with moderate- or high-quality evidence of reduced all-cause mortality (odds ratio [OR], 0.56; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.39-0.80). Among interventions with moderate- or high-quality evidence for efficacy compared with placebo, combinations of 1 or more Lactobacillus spp and 1 or more Bifidobacterium spp, Bifidobacterium animalis subspecies lactis, Lactobacillus reuteri, or Lactobacillus rhamnosus significantly reduced severe NEC (OR, 0.35 [95% CI, 0.20-0.59]; OR, 0.31 [95% CI, 0.13-0.74]; OR, 0.55 [95% CI, 0.34-0.91]; and OR, 0.44 [95% CI, 0.21-0.90], respectively). There was moderate- or high-quality evidence that combinations of 1 or more Lactobacillus spp and 1 or more Bifidobacterium spp and Saccharomyces boulardii reduced the number of days to reach full feeding (mean reduction of 3.30 days [95% CI, reduction of 5.91-0.69 days]). There was moderate- or high-quality evidence that, compared with placebo, the single-species product B animalis subsp lactis or L reuteri significantly reduced duration of hospitalization (mean reduction of 13.00 days [95% CI, reduction of 22.71-3.29 days] and mean reduction of 7.89 days [95% CI, reduction of 11.60-4.17 days], respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In a systematic r

BACKGROUND: The current evidence on the use of probiotics in treating atopic dermatitis is inconclusive. This study determined the comparative effectiveness of the different types of probiotic strains in treating pediatric atopic dermatitis. METHODOLOGY: Systematic and manual search for all randomized controlled trials available from inception until January 31, 2020, was done. Two independent authors conducted the search, screening, appraisal, and data abstraction. Network meta-analysis was conducted using STATA 14 software. RESULTS: Twenty-two studies involving 28 different probiotic strains were included. The top three ranked probiotic strains in terms of efficacy are Mix1 (Bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis CECT 8145, Bifidobacterium longum CECT 7347, and Lactobacillus casei CECT 9104); Lactobacillus casei DN-114001; and Mix6 (Bifidobacterium bifidum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, and Lactobacillus salivarius). Compared with placebo, Mix1 reduces atopic dermatitis symptoms with high certainty evidence (SMD -1.94, 95% CI -2.65 to -1.24; 47 participants). Mix6 compared with placebo probably reduces atopic dermatitis symptoms based on moderate certainty evidence (SMD -0.85, 95% CI -1.50 to -0.20; 40 participants). Lactobacillus casei DN-114001 compared with placebo may reduce atopic dermatitis symptoms based on low certainty evidence (SMD -1.35, 95% CI -2.04 to -0.65). In terms of safety, the highest ranked strain is Lactobacillus fermentum VRI-003, while the lowest ranked strain is Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG. CONCLUSION: Certain probiotic preparations show benefit in reducing allergic symptoms in pediatric atopic dermatitis. © 2020 EAACI and John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

BACKGROUND: Infantile colic is typically defined as full-force crying for at least three hours per day, on at least three days per week, for at least three weeks. Infantile colic affects a large number of infants and their families worldwide. Its symptoms are broad and general, and while not indicative of disease, may represent a serious underlying condition in a small percentage of infants who may need a medical assessment. Probiotics are live microorganisms that alter the microflora of the host and provide beneficial health effects. The most common probiotics used are of Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium and Streptococcus. There is growing evidence to suggest that intestinal flora in colicky infants differ from those in healthy infants, and it is suggested that probiotics can redress this balance and provide a healthier intestinal microbiota landscape. The low cost and easy availability of probiotics makes them a potential prophylactic solution to reduce the incidence and prevalence of infantile colic. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of prophylactic probiotics in preventing or reducing severity of infantile colic. SEARCH METHODS: In January 2018 we searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, 10 other databases and two trials registers. In addition, we handsearched the abstracts of relevant meetings, searched reference lists, ran citation searches of included studies, and contacted authors and experts in the field, including the manufacturers of probiotics, to identify unpublished trials. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised control trials (RCTs) of newborn infants less than one month of age without the diagnosis of infantile colic at recruitment. We included any probiotic, alone or in combination with a prebiotic (also known as synbiotics), versus no intervention, another intervention(s) or placebo, where the focus of the study was the effect of the intervention on infantile colic. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: We used standard methodological procedures of Cochrane. MAIN RESULTS: Our search yielded 3284 records, and of these, we selected 21 reports for full-text review. Six studies with 1886 participants met our inclusion criteria, comparing pr

Probiotics have been suggested to have a preventive effect on respiratory tract infections (RTIs), but limited evidence exist on strain-specific effects. The main aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate strain-specific probiotic effects on RTIs in children attending day care. We included 15 RCTs with 5121 children in day care settings (aged 3 months to 7 years), but due to high diversity in reported outcomes, different number of RCTs were available for evaluated outcomes. Twelve RCTs (n = 4527) reported results which could be compared in at least one outcome of the meta-analysis. Compared to placebo, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) significantly reduced duration of RTIs (three RCTs, n = 1295, mean difference - 0.78 days, 95% confidence interval (CI) - 1.46; - 0.09), whereas no effect was found on other evaluated outcomes. Based on the results from two studies (n = 343), Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12 showed no effect on duration of RTIs or on absence from day care. Meta-analyses on other strains or their combination were not possible due to limited data and different outcome measures.Conclusion: LGG is modestly effective in decreasing the duration of RTIs. More RCTs investigating specific probiotic strains or their combinations in prevention of RTIs are needed. What is known: • Previously published systematic reviews have suggested that probiotics may have a preventive effect on respiratory infections, but limited data exist on strain specific effects. What is new: • This systematic review showed that use of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG modestly reduces the duration of respiratory tract infections.

Elderly people have increased susceptibility to infections and cancer that are associated with decline in cellular immune function. The objective of this work was to determine the efficacy of Bifidobacterium (B.) animalis ssp. lactis HN019 (HN019) supplementation on cellular immune activity in healthy elderly subjects. We conducted a systematic review of Medline and Embase for controlled trials that reported polymorphonuclear (PMN) cell phagocytic capacity or natural killer (NK) cell tumoricidal activity following B. lactis HN019 consumption in the elderly. A random effects meta-analysis was performed with standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval between probiotic and control groups for each outcome. A total of four clinical trials were included in this analysis. B. lactis HN019 supplementation was highly efficacious in increasing PMN phagocytic capacity with an SMD of 0.74 (95% confidence interval: 0.38 to 1.11, p < 0.001) and moderately efficacious in increasing NK cell tumoricidal activity with an SMD of 0.43 (95% confidence interval: 0.08 to 0.78, p = 0.02). The main limitations of this research were the small number of included studies, short-term follow-up, and assessment of a single probiotic strain. In conclusion, daily consumption of B. lactis HN019 enhances NK cell and PMN function in healthy elderly adults.

Recurrent respiratory tract infections (RRTIs) are a major cause of morbidity in children, and strain-defined probiotics have been proposed as a supportive preventive strategy, although clinical evidence remains limited. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 120 children diagnosed with RRTIs received either Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis XLTG11 and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum CCFM8661 or a matched placebo daily for 180 days. The probiotic group demonstrated significantly reduced duration and frequency of fever, cough, upper respiratory tract infections, trachea/bronchitis, pneumonia, and overall RRTI recurrence compared with the placebo group (all p < 0.05). Gut microbiota profiling showed clear community differences between groups at day 180, with the probiotic group exhibiting greater abundance of beneficial commensal taxa and the placebo group showing higher representation of opportunistic genera. Functional pathway analysis indicated shifts consistent with enhanced metabolic stability in probiotic recipients. Immune biomarker patterns further supported a more regulated humoral response in the probiotic group, reflected by comparatively stable IgG, IgM, and complement C3 levels over the intervention period. Growth trajectories remained normal in both groups, and no treatment-related adverse events were reported, confirming a favorable safety profile. These findings indicate that long-term supplementation with XLTG11 and CCFM8661 is safe, well tolerated, and effective in reducing RRTI burden in children, while also supporting healthier microbiota and immune patterns. This trial provides evidence for the use of strain-defined probiotics as a complementary approach within pediatric respiratory infection prevention strategies.

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are standard therapy for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), but long-term use causes dysbiosis, gastrointestinal side effects, and symptom relapse after discontinuation. Probiotics may offer adjunctive benefits by modulating the gut ecosystem. The study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a multi-strain probiotic (Lihuo) with rabeprazole in GERD and its impact on gut microbiota and metabolome. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted in 120 GERD patients assigned to receive rabeprazole with either Lihuo (n = 64) or placebo (n = 56) for 8 weeks, followed by 4 weeks of probiotic or placebo alone. The primary outcome was change in the Reflux Disease Questionnaire (RDQ) score. Secondary outcomes included Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale, endoscopic healing, and multi-omics profiling (shotgun metagenomics, phageome, and untargeted/targeted metabolomics). Compared with the placebo group, the probiotic group exhibited a pronounced 36.51% reduction in RDQ scores after 12 weeks of intervention (P = 0.017), alongside a higher numerical endoscopic healing rate (36.84% vs 12.50%; P = 0.365). Metagenomics revealed enrichment of Bifidobacterium animalis, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, and Clostridium sp900540255, with reductions in Bacteroides uniformis and Clostridium Q fessum. Metabolomics showed increased γ-aminobutyric acid, succinate, citrulline, and short-chain fatty acids levels, with interesting microbe-metabolite correlations such as Bifidobacterium animalis-γ-aminobutyric acid and Bacteroides fragilis-succinate (r ≥ 0.30, P < 0.01). Our findings support that adjunctive probiotic therapy sustains post-PPI symptom relief, associated with targeted modulation of gut microbiota and bioactive metabolites.IMPORTANCELong-term proton pump inhibitor use in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) may disrupt gut microbiota and cause symptom relapse after discontinuation. We found that adjunctive probiotic therapy sustained reflux reduction post-proton pump inhibitor. Probiotic use enriched beneficial taxa (Bifidobacterium and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum) and increased γ-aminobutyric acid, succinate, citrulline, a

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Emerging evidence highlight the gut microbiome as an important regulator of metabolic health, with probiotics and prebiotics demonstrating exciting potential for their role in health promotion. This study aims to investigate a novel synbiotic formulation comprising four probiotic strains (Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis CECT 8145, and three Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus strains), prebiotics (inulin, fructooligosaccharides), and Chrysanthemum morifolium extract. We hypothesized that this intervention would improve metabolic health parameters, particularly visceral adiposity. METHODS: In a 12-week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial with a 6-week post-intervention follow-up, 112 participants (BMI: 24.0-34.9 kg/m2) received daily synbiotic or a matched placebo. Changes in visceral adipose tissue (VAT) area, serving as the primary endpoint, were quantified by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Secondary outcomes included analysis of blood biochemical parameters, body composition, and fecal microbiota characterization. RESULTS: Compared with placebo, synbiotic supplementation significantly reduced VAT area from baseline to week 12 (p = 0.048). In subgroup analyses by gender and BMI, the effect was more pronounced in men than in women (p = 0.051) and was highly significant in individuals with 24 ≤ BMI <28 (p = 0.003). However, subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) increased in the 24 ≤ BMI <28 subgroup (p = 0.027). Although no significant changes occurred in blood biochemistry, BMI, or waist circumference, the synbiotic group showed a trend toward greater total body fat reduction between weeks 12-18 (p = 0.077). Microbiota analysis revealed transient enrichment of B. animalis subsp. lactis (ASV110) and L. rhamnosus (ASV473), which dissipated by week 18. CONCLUSIONS: This synbiotic formulation reduced visceral fat, a key driver of metabolic dysfunction, and modulated adipose distribution, particularly in men and overweight (24 ≤ BMI <28) individuals. These results support its use as a functional food for visceral adiposity management. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was registered on the website of www.chictr.o

Background: Sleep is essential for athletes' physical performance and recovery. However, strenuous exercise has the potential to increase inflammation and worsen sleep. This study evaluated the effect of probiotic supplementation on self-reported sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, and inflammatory profile 24 h after a marathon. Methods: 27 marathon male runners were divided into the Probiotic group (Probiotic n = 14) or the Placebo group (Placebo n = 13). The Probiotic group consumed 1 × 1010 CFU of Lactobacillus acidophilus, 1 × 1010 CFU of Bifidobacterium lactis + 5 g/day maltodextrin for 30 days prior to the marathon. The Placebo group received a sachet of 5 g/day maltodextrin during the same period. Sleep and inflammatory status were assessed before supplementation, before the marathon, and 1 h and 24 h after the marathon. Data were analyzed using Statistic 13.3 and expressed as mean ± standard deviation. Tukey's post hoc test was followed by a two-way ANOVA with repeated measures. The level of significance was set at p ≤ 0.05. Results: In the Placebo group, daytime sleepiness, sleep latency, and global sleep score increased 24 h after the marathon, while total sleep time and sleep efficiency decreased. In the Probiotic group, daytime sleepiness, sleep latency, and global sleep scores were lower 24 h after the marathon compared to the Placebo group. Total sleep time and sleep efficiency were higher in the Probiotic group compared to the Placebo group 24 h after the marathon. IL-1β and TNF-α concentrations decreased compared to Basal in both groups. IL-1β levels were lower 24 h after treatment compared to pre-treatment in the Placebo group. IL-6 was lower 24 h after the marathon in both groups. LPS concentrations were lower 1 h and 24 h after the marathon in the Probiotic group compared to the Basal group. There was no difference in cytokines and LPS between the groups. Conclusions: Supplementation with Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium lactis for 30 days changes self-reported sleep and reduces LPS concentration after the marathon.

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a chronic joint disease marked by cartilage degradation and inflammation. Probiotics exhibit anti-inflammatory properties and may influence the gut-joint axis. Thus, a 4-month human trial was conducted to assess the adjunctive effects of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis Probio-M8 on KOA in postmenopausal women. Sixty-five KOA patients were randomly allocated to the probiotic group (n = 37; Probio-M8 and chondroitin sulfate) or placebo group (n = 28; placebo and chondroitin sulfate). Following a 3-month intervention, participants from both groups entered a 1-month observation without probiotic supplementation. Our findings revealed that Probio-M8 co-administration significantly reduced Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scores at months 1, 3, and 4 compared to the placebo group (P < 0.001). The probiotic group showed a significant decrease in serum IFN-γ and increases in IL-4 and IL-10 (P < 0.05). Fecal metagenome analysis showed significant changes in the gut microbiota of the probiotic group, with increases in potentially beneficial species, including Agathobaculum butyriciproducens, Bacteroides stercoris, B. animalis, Roseburia hominis, and Ruminococcus bromii, while Dorea formicigenerans decreased (P < 0.05). Changes in B. animalis were strongly associated with WOMAC scores. The gut metabolic potential analysis showed elevated levels of N-oleoylethanolamine and decreased levels of cholesterol and hypoxanthine in probiotic receivers (P < 0.05). Metabolite analysis revealed post-interventional alternations in fecal prostaglandin E2, stearic acid, cholic acid, chenodeoxycholic acid, xanthine, testosterone, and serum bile acids (P < 0.05). Collectively, Probio-M8 enhances the effectiveness of chondroitin sulfate in KOA management through modulating the gut-joint axis, potentially via regulating multiple inflammatory pathways. IMPORTANCE: The pathogenesis of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and its phenotypic expression have been associated with the human gut microbiota. Our study demonstrated that the co-administration of Probio-M8 with chondroitin sulfate significantly alleviates KOA symptoms. This

BACKGROUND: As dysregulated gut microbiota is known in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and probiotics may improve it, we investigated the efficacy and safety of a combination probiotic, Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5 and Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis BB-12 in non-constipated IBS. METHODS: Two hundred non-constipated IBS patients were randomized to the above-mentioned probiotic and placebo for 84 days. The outcome measures included IBS-Global Improvement Scale (IBS-GIS), IBS-Quality of Life (IBS-QoL), EAR3Q, IBS-Severity Scoring System (IBS-SSS), and patient-reported improvement. Fecal microbiota was evaluated in a subset. RESULTS: Response in IBS-GIS was higher with probiotics than with placebo at days 28 (19.3% vs. 8.9%; p = 0.048), 56, and 84. Total and abdominal pain, distension, and QoL scores of IBS-SSS decreased at day 28 with probiotics that persisted till days 56 and 84. The percentage of patients with "severe" symptoms reduced from 20.8% at baseline to 3.9% at day 84, and the median IBS-QoL score decreased significantly at day 28; the beneficial effect on QoL was sustained till days 56 and 84 (p < 0.001). Improvement in abdominal pain, distension, urgency of defecation, bowel habit satisfaction, and stool frequency was noted earlier with probiotics than with placebo; 4.0% in the probiotic group and 0.9% in the placebo group had mild/moderate adverse events (p = 0.167). Symptom recurrence occurred in 3.0% in the probiotic group and 3.9% in the placebo group during follow-up of 180 days (p = 0.718). No difference was observed in the fecal microbiota between the two groups, but healthy genera were enriched with probiotics. CONCLUSIONS: The probiotic blend studied was more effective than placebo in non-constipated IBS in adults. © 2025 Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Foundation and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.

To evaluate the effect of Bifidobacterium subsp. lactis BLa80 on glycemic control and gut microbiota composition in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted in 80 patients. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either BLa80 supplementation or placebo (n = 40 per group) in addition to standard metformin therapy for 12 weeks. Fasting blood and stool samples were collected at baseline and at the end of the intervention. The results showed that BLa80 supplementation significantly reduced fasting blood glucose and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels, while low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels were increased. Furthermore, BLa80 modulated the diversity and composition of the gut microbiota after 12 weeks of intervention. In conclusion, BLa80 supplementation may improve glycemic control and modulate the gut microbiota in patients with T2DM, suggesting its potential as an adjunctive therapy in diabetes management.

Background/Objectives: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder marked by insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, systemic inflammation, and immune imbalance. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial investigated the effects of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis TISTR 2591 (BA-2591), a probiotic strain isolated in Thailand, on metabolic, immunologic, and safety parameters. Methods: A total of 44 Thai adults (aged 35-65) with T2DM receiving metformin monotherapy were administered BA-2591 (1 × 109 CFU/g/day) or placebo for 6 weeks, followed by a 4-week washout and crossover. Results: Compared to placebo, BA-2591 significantly attenuated fasting blood glucose elevation (Δ = +1.143 mg/dL vs. +12.570 mg/dL; p < 0.001), minimized the increase in insulin resistance (HOMA-IR: Δ = +0.567 vs. +0.980; p = 0.006), and enhanced β-cell function (HOMA-β: Δ = +6.791% vs. -8.313%; p < 0.001). It also elevated immunoglobulin levels (IgM: +150.300 mg/dL; IgG: +261.500 mg/dL; p < 0.001), reduced LDL-C (p = 0.009), and decreased cathepsin D activity (p = 0.005), with no significant changes in IL-6, adiponectin, MDA, hs-CRP, or body composition. No severe adverse effects were reported. Conclusions: BA-2591 was safe and demonstrated modest, adjunctive benefits for fasting glycemia and immunologic profiles over 6 weeks, without changes in body weight or fat mass. These findings support BA-2591 as a potential adjunct to standard care in early T2DM; larger and longer-duration trials are needed to define its effects on longer-term outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Celiac disease is a chronic autoimmune disorder triggered by gluten ingestion in genetically predisposed individuals, leading to intestinal damage. Probiotics have been studied for their potential benefits in modulating gut microbiota and alleviating gastrointestinal symptoms, which may be beneficial in managing celiac disease (CD). OBJECTIVE: In this way, this study evaluated the effects of probiotics compared to placebo in individuals with CD over the course of treatment. METHODS: A total of 85 participants, with an average age of 40 years, were randomized into two groups using a computer-generated list: 39 receiving placebo and 46 receiving a probiotic blend of Bifidobacterium lactis CCT 7858 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus CCT 7863 (1 x 109 CFU/day) over 90 days. Participants received either a daily probiotic capsule or an identical placebo made from maltodextrin, provided by Gabbia Biotecnologia Ltda. The randomization process and group assignments were concealed from both participants and investigators. RESULTS: Both groups exhibited similar demographic and clinical characteristics, with most participants symptomatic for CD and adhering to a gluten-free diet. The Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS) showed a predominance of normal stool forms in both groups, with a higher prevalence of type 4 in the probiotic group. Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) scores improved significantly in the probiotic group compared to placebo. Additionally, the probiotic group showed significant improvements in emotional well-being and gastrointestinal symptoms, leading to a better quality of life, as measured by the CD-specific quality of life (CD-QOL) scores. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that probiotics contribute to symptom improvement and enhanced quality of life in CD patients. BACKGROUND: • Probiotics improve celiac disease symptoms. BACKGROUND: • This study involved 85 participants with celiac disease. BACKGROUND: • The probiotic group significantly modulated gastrointestinal symptoms and quality of life. BACKGROUND: • The probiotics are beneficial adjunct therapy for individuals with celiac disease. CONTEXTO: A doença celíaca (DC) é um distúrbio auto

AIM: this study explored the impact of BLa80 (Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis) and LRa05 (Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus) on the gut microbiota composition and metabolic indicators of volunteers with alcohol-consuming habits. METHODS: in this randomised, placebo-controlled trial, we assessed the impacts of a probiotic complex containing BLa80 and LRa05 (BLC) on the gut microbiota, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and uric acid levels in healthy participants. A total of 112 subjects were randomly assigned to receive either a placebo (maltodextrin) or the intervention (maltodextrin + BLC at 20 billion colony-forming units/day) for eight weeks. Gut microbiota alterations were monitored via 16S rRNA gene sequencing, while fecal SCFAs were quantified via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Key metabolic indicators, including ALT, AST, and uric acid, were also measured. RESULTS: BLC intervention maintained the gut microbiota composition in participants with alcohol consumption habits, notably increasing the abundance of beneficial genera such as Blautia, Faecalibacterium, and Subdoligranulum. Significant alterations were observed in the levels of acetic acid, valeric acid, and total SCFAs, suggesting a favourable influence on gut health and metabolic function. Furthermore, BLC showed potential for improving serum uric acid levels. CONCLUSION: supplementation with BLC appears to beneficially modulate the composition of the gut microbiota, aiding in the management of alcohol-related gastrointestinal disturbances and dependency. These findings highlight BLC's potential as a therapeutic adjunct for alcohol-induced gut dysbiosis, offering a non-pharmacological strategy to mitigate metabolic risks and improve gut barrier integrity in individuals with chronic alcohol consumption. This intervention may significantly contribute to gut health improvement.

The interplay between probiotic metabolites, host health, and inhibition of pathogens has increasingly attracted interest but remains unresolved due to the complex molecular interactions among these factors. We investigated the action of cell-free supernatants (CFSs) from two probiotic bacteria, Bifidobacterium animalis spp. lactis (B. lactis) HN019 and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus (L. rhamnosus) HN001 and their effect against the bacterial pathogen Shigella flexneri 2457T (S. flexneri). The CFSs from B. lactis HN019 exhibited a higher antibacterial effect against S. flexneri growth than the CFSs from L. rhamnosus HN001, independent of the carbon source utilized. This effect correlated with higher formate within the CFSs from B. lactis HN019. As expected, the antimicrobial effects of CFSs were stronger against free S. flexneri cells than for S. flexneri infecting host cells. A synergistic effect of the CFSs with additional small organic molecules such as indole-3-lactate and formate was found. Such interplay between CFSs, indole-3-lactate, and formate was reflected by altered metabolic rates by S. flexneri in the presence of B. lactis HN019 CFSs both in the solution and under biofilm-forming conditions. The synergistic effect between different components acting on S. flexneri gives reasons to believe that suitably designed mixtures of probiotic metabolic products and small-molecule effectors bear promise for successfully combating pathogens.

This systematic literature review assessed whether nutritional supplement, dietary and exercise interventions influence gut microbiota and subsequent exercise performance. Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, a comprehensive search was conducted across five databases (Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL Complete, Web of Science and Scopus) up to February 2025. Included studies involved healthy, active adults undergoing nutrient supplementation, dietary and/or exercise interventions with a control or placebo comparator. Outcomes included faecal bacterial composition (α-diversity, relative abundance), short-chain fatty acids, in adjunct with exercise performance (i.e., time-trial, time to exhaustion, maximal strength). Eighteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Due to methodological heterogeneity, a descriptive synthesis was performed. Changes in faecal microbiota diversity and composition were highly variable and largely minimal. Short-chain fatty acid outcomes were infrequently assessed; only one study reported a significant increase in faecal acetate concentration following yoghurt supplementation containing Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BL-99. Only seven studies examined the relationship between changes in faecal bacterial profile and performance outcomes, with limited or inconclusive findings. No consistent performance benefits were observed in relation to microbiota changes. Risk of bias and methodological limitations were common, including variation in interventions, outcome measures and microbiota analysis methods. Taken together, the current evidence base remains too limited and heterogeneous to draw firm conclusions about the efficacy of microbiota-targeted interventions for enhancing exercise performance in healthy, active adults. Future studies employing standardised methods, mechanistic outcome measures and longitudinal designs may help clarify the potential of microbiota modulation as a performance-enhancing strategy. Thieme. All rights reserved.

BACKGROUND: The growing prevalence of obesity has become a major concern worldwide, therefore a great number of studies are conducted every day in the field of obesity. Since postbiotics are a newly introduced term, there is not much systematic evidence about their function and impact on obesity. We designed this study to systematically review the effect of different types of postbiotics on obesity. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted using PubMed, SCOPUS, and Web of Science databases up to August 2023. Both human and animal interventional studies that investigated the effects of any type of postbiotic on obesity and obesity-related factors were eligible. Screening, data extraction, and quality assessment were conducted independently by two researchers. The quality of the studies was appraised using Cochrane and Systematic Review Centre for Laboratory Animal Experimentation (SYRCLE's) risk of bias tool. RESULTS: Of the 19373 retrieved studies, finally, 49 studies were included (9 human studies and 40 animal studies). Short-chain fatty acids and heat-killed (inactivated) bacteria were the most used postbiotics. In human clinical trials, inactivated Lactobacillus amylovorus (CP1563), Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis (CECT 8145) and Pediococcus pentosaceus (LP28) were administered orally as postbiotics which improved body composition and anthropometric indices. Animal studies evaluated other types of postbiotics including muramyl dipeptide, cell-free extracts, urolithin A&B, extracellular Vesicles, exopolysaccharides, and surface Layer Proteins, supporting the anti-obesity effects of postbiotics. CONCLUSION: Postbiotics seem to be a safe intervention and the results were in favor of a reduction in adipogenesis as well as an increase in energy expenditure. Further high-quality studies are required in this relatively new topic.

Although various probiotic organisms have been evaluated for their utility in the management of periodontitis, their strain-specific mechanisms of action are still unclear. We aimed to systematically review the effect of bifidobacterial probiotics on periodontopathogens and host immune responses in periodontal diseases. An electronic search of articles published until June 2022 in Medline, PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases was performed. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and in vitro and animal studies were assessed, and the data regarding antimicrobial properties, immunomodulation, and clinical outcomes were analysed. A total of 304 studies were screened, but only 3 RCTs and 6 animal and in vitro studies met the inclusion criteria. The use of different strains of bifidobacteria led to (1) a reduction of key players of the red complex periodontopathogens; (2) reduced levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (eg, interleukin [IL]1-β and IL-8) and higher levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10); (3) enhanced levels of osteoprotegerin and reduced levels of receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand; and (4) a reduction of the dental plaque, bleeding on probing, alveolar bone loss, and clinical attachment loss. Bifidobacterial probiotic adjuvant supplementation, especially with Bifidobacterium animalis subspecies lactis, appears to help improve clinical periodontal parameters and develop a healthy plaque microbiome through microbiological and immunomodulatory pathways. Further human and animal studies are warranted prior to the therapeutic use of bifidobacteria in the routine management of periodontal infections.

The evaluation of probiotics' efficacy in treating irritable bowel syndrome is supported by an increasing number of clinical studies based on a heterogeneous approach of products tested and the patient cohort involved. Although the role of gut microbiota dysbiosis in IBS pathogenesis and the beneficial contribution of probiotics were demonstrated, a tool to discriminate symptom-specific strains and a personalised medicine protocol are still lacking. Thus, this study employs, for the first time, a method that combines the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis and multi-criteria decision analysis methods in a structured decision-making tool to analyze the efficacy of probiotic mix, in order to identify the most effective formulation and to discriminate which probiotics are more efficient in treating different symptoms. The PRISMA methodology resulted in a qualitative and quantitative analysis of 104 clinical studies from 2011 to 2021, revealing a prevalence of Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis. MCDA analysis showed that formulations based on Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Lactobacillus acidophilus have the highest efficacy, especially on quality of life, bloating, and abdominal pain. This methodological approach could become more specific by modelling clinical studies according to the age and gender of patients and probiotic strain.

The need for alternative treatments for multiple sclerosis (MS) has triggered copious amounts of research into microbial therapies focused on manipulating the microbiota-gut-brain axis. This comprehensive review was intended to present and systematically evaluate the current clinical and preclinical evidence for various probiotic and commensal gut microbial therapies as treatments for MS, using the Bradford Hill criteria (BHC) as a multi-parameter assessment rubric. Literature searches were performed to identify a total of 37 relevant studies (6 human, 31 animal), including 28 probiotic therapy and 9 commensal therapy studies. In addition to presenting qualitative summaries of these findings, therapeutic evidence for each bacterial formulation was assessed using the BHC to generate summative scores. These scores, which encompassed study quality, replication, and other considerations, were used to rank the most promising therapies and highlight deficiencies. Several therapeutic formulations, including VSL#3, Lactobacillus paracasei, Bifidobacterium animalis, E. coli Nissle 1917, and Prevotella histicola, emerged as the most promising. In contrast, a number of other therapies were hindered by limited evidence of replicable findings and other criteria, which need to be addressed by future studies in order to harness gut microbial therapies to ultimately provide cheaper, safer, and more durable treatments for MS.