Probiotics-exploring the role of health-friendly microbes in human health and disease management

Abstract

Probiotics, non-pathogenic microbes, are widely used as functional foods due to their health benefits. They are commonly used in various bacterial genera such as Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Escherichia, Enterococcus, Bacillus, and Streptococcus. Some fungal strains from Saccharomyces are also used. The human intestinal microbiota plays a crucial role in the development of the gut immune system, metabolism, nutrition absorption, production of essential vitamins and short-chain fatty acids, resistance to pathogens, and modulating immune responses. Microbiota imbalance can lead to various disorders, including inflammatory bowel disease, antibiotic-associated diarrhea, obesity, asthma, psychiatric illnesses, infantile diarrhea, necrotizing enterocolitis, COVID-19 infection, Helicobacter pylori infections, cancer, female uro-genital infections, and surgical infections. Recent studies suggest probiotics can help alleviate metabolic, lifestyle, and diet-related disorders. Current research focuses on molecular events and applications of probiotics. This review highlights the credibility and advances in scientific literature on probiotics' potential health attributes, emphasizing the need for randomized human-controlled clinical trials to confirm their safety and beneficial effects.