• Probiotics and their role in promoting health and strengthening the immune system
  • Setayesh Bahramifar,1,* Sarvenaz Nasiri,2
    1. Bachelor`s student ,Microbiology group,Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology,TehranMedical Science,Islamic Azad University,Tehean,Iran
    2. Bachelor`s student ,Microbiology group,Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology,TehranMedical Science,Islamic Azad University,Tehean,Iran


  • Introduction: Probiotics are a combination of live beneficial bacteria or yeasts that naturally live in the body. The main function of probiotics is to maintain the microbial balance in the body. Beneficial bacteria help the body by boosting the immune system and controlling inflammation. These bacteria also help digest food, break down and absorb medications, and prevent the entry of pathogenic bacteria. Most bacteria considered probiotics are from the Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium families, although some yeasts, such as Saccharomyces boulardii, are also considered probiotics. For example, glutamine production by Bifidobacterium protects the mucosal barrier. In healthy people, probiotics help prevent diseases such as ulcerative colitis caused by Clostridium difficile by controlling cholesterol levels, increasing lactose tolerance, controlling body weight, and increasing muscle strength. Probiotics can help maintain the balance of T-cell subsets by increasing the conversion of Th2 to Th1, especially in allergies and Th2-mediated inflammatory diseases. This, in turn, reduces allergy symptoms. However, the effect of these microorganisms may not be beneficial in people with weakened immune systems and those taking immunosuppressive drugs due to the production of harmful substances by these microorganisms or their role in the transmission of antibiotic resistance genes. Bloating and headaches are due to the presence of amines in probiotic-rich foods such as kefir and yogurt. Histamine levels in the digestive tract, which lead to vasodilation and redness and sweating, cause symptoms such as hives, a runny nose and eyes, and breathing problems in sensitive people.
  • Methods: By reviewing probiotic data and articles published in Google Scholar and PubMed, based on the available information, we found that probiotics such as Lactobacillus can play a significant role in the treatment and control of diseases.
  • Results: Based on studies, it can be concluded that continuous and sufficient consumption of probiotics can prevent and improve human diseases.
  • Conclusion: Given the increasing prevalence of various diseases, including gastrointestinal diseases and cancer, it is essential to provide solutions to control and prevent these diseases. Probiotics are living microorganisms that can have a beneficial effect on improving human health by inhibiting or reducing pathogenic microorganisms. Various studies in this field have shown that these beneficial organisms can play an effective role in the treatment and prevention of various diseases, such as constipation, oral diseases, cancer, diarrhea, Helicobacter pylori infection and diseases such as these, and they can also affect immune cells and improve their function. However, there are also concerns about probiotics, such as the transfer of pathogenic genes or increased resistance to antibiotics.
  • Keywords: Probiotics, Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Intestinal Microflora, Immune System