Probiotic supplementation has a limited effect on circulating immune and inflammatory markers in healthy adults: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials
Abstract
Background A main mechanism of action proposed for oral probiotic supplementation is immunomodulation, which is expected to impart health benefits in the host by influencing circulating immune and inflammatory factors. To date, the effectiveness of probiotic supplementation for immunomodulation in healthy adults without disease has not been evaluated in a systematic review.Objective The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the effect of probiotic supplementation on circulating immune and inflammatory markers of healthy adults compared to placebo.Methods PubMed, SCOPUS, ISI Web of Science, ProQuest, and Cochrane databases were searched for English articles up to May 15, 2019. Additional papers were identified by checking references of relevant papers. Only randomized controlled trials studying the administration of probiotic supplements compared to placebo on immune and inflammatory markers in healthy adults (aged 18 to 65 years), without acute or chronic disease, and in generally good health were examined. Independent extraction of articles was conducted by two authors using predefined search terms and restrictions/filters. The methodologic quality of each study was appraised using the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Evidence Analysis Library Quality Rating Worksheet and the body of evidence was assessed using the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Grade Definitions and Conclusion Grading Table.Results Eighteen articles, including 819 subjects, met eligibility criteria and were included in the present systematic review. Five articles were rated neutral in quality and 13 were rated high in quality. Eight articles reported a significant effect on immune and/or inflammatory parameters including increases in natural killer cells, lymphocytes, and monocytes, and decreases in proinflammatory cytokine concentrations.Conclusions Based on the 18 articles extracted in this systemic review, probiotic supplementation was concluded to have a limited effect on immune and inflammatory markers in healthy adults. Overall, the evidence was heterogenous, precluding a meta-analysis, and difficult to aggregate and conclude on effect size.Systematic review registration number PROSPERO ref CRD42018110856.
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Probiotics communicate with cells inside and outside the GI tract through biochemical signaling mechanisms, leading to improved intestinal barrier function, reduced production of pro-inflammatory markers such as cytokines, and improved immune function.
“Probiotics communicate with cells inside and outside the GI tract through biochemical signaling mechanisms, and this leads to improved intestinal barrier function, reduced production of pro-inflammatory markers such as cytokines [92], and improved immune function [93].”
From The Potential Impact of Probiotics on Human Health: An Update on Their Health-Promoting Properties (2024) · cites this paper as [93]
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The Potential Impact of Probiotics on Human Health: An Update on Their Health-Promoting Properties
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Self-citation
- Authors
- Mohr, A. E., Basile, A. J., Crawford, M. S., Sweazea, K. L., & Carpenter, K. C.
- Corresponding author
- Carpenter, Katie C.
- Venue
- Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2020-04
- Volume
- 120
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 548-564
- ISSN
- 2212-2672 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2980428306
- Cited by
- 37
- References
- 69
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 5
- FWCI
- 0.34
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Probiotics and Fermented Foods
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Microbial Metabolites in Food Biotechnology
- Keywords
- probiotic supplementation, immunomodulation, inflammatory markers, immunological markers, healthy adults, natural killer cells, lymphocytes, monocytes, inflammatory cytokines, placebo comparison
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Female, Humans, Immunologic Factors, Male, Middle Aged, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Inflammation Mediators, Dietary Supplements, Probiotics, Young Adult, Immunomodulation, Healthy Volunteers
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