The colon microbiota is an important player in the development of colorectal cancer (CRC), which caused 935,000 deaths in 2020 (the second most deadly cancer worldwide). During carcinogenesis, the colon microbiota composition changes from a normal profile to dysbiosis, interfering with the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which have anti-cancer effects. In addition […]
Probiotic-Based Vaccines: Are We There Yet?
Vaccines elicit variable immune responses in different people. A multitude of reasons can make a vaccine less effective against disease, a consequence that can be dangerous or even fatal. Correlations between microbiota and immune response to vaccination are recognized as a factor associated with vaccine failures. Unfortunately, evidence supporting the benefit of probiotics to modulate […]
Aging Skin: Can Probiotics Help?
Aging is an inevitable and normal biological process in humans. Like all human organs, your skin ages and, as you get older, starts exhibiting telltale signs of biological aging (senescence): wrinkles, sagging, and loss of moisture and fat. While numerous factors such as genetics and lifestyle can accelerate the process, research has helped identify aging […]
Preterm Birth: A Role for Probiotics?
As eager as one may be to greet a newborn, an early arrival is never good. Preterm birth (PTB) — when an infant is born before 37 weeks of gestation — is a serious problem across the globe. With an estimated 15 million cases annually, spontaneous preterm birth (SPTB) is the leading cause of death […]
Probiotics Show Promise in Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease causing neuropathological changes and a severe decline in cognitive function. The most common cause of dementia, AD has no known cure. Although some medications may delay the loss of cognition and memory, definitive interventions are elusive. Recent research has focused on the role of the human microbiome […]
Bariatric Surgery: A Role for Probiotics?
Bariatric surgery improves metabolism and inflammation in severe obesity and is associated with gut microbiota modifications. However, the role of the gut microbiota in inducing these beneficial changes is controversial in part because the surgery may not fully restore microbial balance. Recent research has attempted to disentangle the complex relationship as well as elucidate a […]