APPLICABILITY OF PROBIOTICS IN DIARRHEAL SYNDROMES: WHAT DOES THE EVIDENCE SAY? (Atena Editora)

Abstract

Probiotics are live microorganisms beneficial to health, which can be used as food supplements or added to foods such as yogurt and fermented milk. Probiotics are classified into different types, such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species, and act in different ways, such as colonizing the gastrointestinal tract, modulating the intestinal microbiota and stimulating the immune system. Probiotics have been widely studied in relation to their use in the treatment of several syndromes, such as acute and chronic diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, celiac disease, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. In acute diarrhea, probiotics have been shown to be effective in reducing the duration of diarrhea and decreasing the number of bowel movements. In chronic diarrhea, probiotics have also shown positive effects in reducing symptoms and improving patients' quality of life. In irritable bowel syndrome, probiotics have been studied as a promising alternative to conventional treatment, due to their ability to modulate the intestinal microbiota and reduce inflammation. In celiac disease, probiotics have been investigated as a possible way to improve gluten tolerance and reduce intestinal inflammation. In Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, probiotics have been studied as a way to reduce intestinal inflammation and improve the body's immune response. Thus, studies show that the use of probiotics is safe and can bring significant benefits to patients with different syndromes. However, it is important to highlight that the use of probiotics must be done under medical guidance and that more research is needed to better understand the action of probiotics and identify the best strains for each type of syndrome.