Probiotics helpful in warding off inflammatory, autoimmune diseases

Probiotics are known to have beneficial effects on human health, and the latest to add on to the list of its benefits is the immune system, for a new study has found that probotics help in modulation of immune responses via the guts mucosal immune system.

Washington, May 21 : Probiotics are known to have beneficial effects on human health, and the latest to add on to the list of its benefits is the immune system, for a new study has found that probotics help in modulation of immune responses via the gut's mucosal immune system.

For the analysis, the researchers looked at immunomodulatory effects of probiotics bacteria in healthy adults.

They found that probiotics have an anti-inflammatory potential seen as a decrease in serum CRP levels and as a reduction in bacteria-induced production of proinflammatory cytokines in peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

The researchers believe that understanding of the specific immunomodulatory effects of probiotics may help in designing future probiotics for targeted purposes.

However, to understand the real impact of probiotics on inflammatory variables, further studies have to be conducted over inflammatory processes and in individuals suffering from various types of inflammatory or autoimmune diseases.

The study, performed by the groups of Dr Korpela, Professor Vapaatalo and Professor Julkunen, will be published on April 7, 2008, in the World Journal of Gastroenterology.

ANI