It is hard to walk down the aisles of a supermarket these days without
seeing a new food product promoting that it contains probiotics, or turn
on the TV without seeing an ad for a new probiotic supplement. All of
the recent popularization of probiotics, however, has also brought about
a lot of confusion and misconceptions about the potential effects of probiotics
on various aspects of human health.
Why Is “Good” Bacteria important?
The normal human digestive tract contains about 400 different species of
"good" commensal bacteria that reduce the growth of harmful
bacteria and facilitate the absorption of nutrients. These commensal bacteria
also have an important role in regulating both the intestinal and systemic
immune system, and most probiotics are marketed under rather generic claims
of effects on the immune system, such as "supporting immune health".
The Effects of Probiotics Widely Vary
Probiotics are defined by the World Health Organization as "live microorganisms,
which when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on
the host". This rather broad definition reflects the diverse effects
that probiotics can have on a person's immune system. Some strains
can promote activation of the immune system and inflammation through the
promotion of the maturation of dendritic cells, activation of NK cells,
and polarization toward Th1 T cell responses.
Other strains, to the contrary, are effective in promoting immune tolerance
and anti-inflammatory effects by promoting the development of regulatory
T cell (Treg) responses and anti-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-10.
Even among these anti-inflammatory strains though, their ability to promote
Treg and IL-10 driven immune responses varies widely.
Probiotics Regarding Infertility & Miscarriage
The effectiveness of some of the anti-inflammatory probiotic strains in
treating autoimmune and inflammatory diseases in experimental animal models
and conditions such as allergies and inflammatory bowel disease in humans
underscores their potential as immune modulating therapeutics. Because
of the diverse effects that different strains of probiotics can have on
a person's immune system though, it is important that women experiencing
infertility or recurrent pregnancy loss do not consume probiotics without
first having a thorough immune diagnostic workup.
Contact A Reproductive Immunologist Today!
It is also important that the proper strain or strains of probiotics are
selected for patients based on the results of their workup and a solid
understanding of the effects of various strains on the immune system.
At Braverman IVF & Reproductive Immunology we are beginning to include
certain probiotics in our arsenal of treatment options and to test the
benefits of these strains particularly in patients with an inflammatory
component to their diagnosis. To learn more about how probiotics might
be able to help you overcome problems with
infertility or
recurrent pregnancy loss we invite you to call and
schedule a consultation.