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Effects of Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Postbiotics on Human Health (2nd Edition)

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Prebiotics and Probiotics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 5 October 2025 | Viewed by 905

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Surgery, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Interests: probiotics; nutrition; body composition; obesity treatment; endoscopic surgery; colorectal surgery; interventional endoscopy; surgery; colon surgery; obesity; experimental surgery
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Surgery, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge CB2 2QQ, UK
Interests: probiotics; surgery; colorectal surgery; emergency surgery; experimental surgery
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Since the 1990s, probiotics, either alone or in association with prebiotics as supplements, have been well documented to play an important role in host health and disease management. However, given today’s augmented knowledge on their specific antioxidant and immunomodulatory actions and ability to modulate the gut microbiota and enhance epithelial barrier function, to mention just a few, and the consequent beneficial effects on disease prevention and treatment, a very significant volume of research and clinical applications today are focused on their use.

The word “probiotics” tends to be automatically linked to gut microbiota; however, almost all scientists today know that the gut, although the oldest recognized and possibly the central “host” organ, is not unique, with others including the lungs and the skin.

Postbiotics, recently defined as “inanimate microorganisms and/or their components that confer a health benefit on the host”, were used for skin health as cosmetics long before they were renamed postbiotics. However, they have traditionally also been used, instead of live probiotics, with immunocompromised patients being at risk of bacteremia induction.

Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643) is an international, peer reviewed, open access [Impact Factor 5.9] advanced forum for publishing studies of any type related to the broad spectrum of human nutrition. Seeking a multidisciplinary and multifaceted approach to the topic of “health promotion and maintenance” by means of probiotics, prebiotics, or postbiotics, and based on your insights and expertise in this complex field, we welcome the submission of papers from all aspects of research, along with reviews and meta-analyses. Potential topics might include the following:

  • Gut motility control;
  • Glucose tolerance;
  • Bone density;
  • Cardiovascular health;
  • Metabolism;
  • Cognitive function/mood.

In view of the success of the first volume of this Special Issue, we are now launching Volume 2: Effects of Probiotics, Prebiotics and Postbiotics on Human Health (2nd Edition); we welcome your contributions to the new volume of this Special Issue.

Dr. Katerina Kotzampassi
Dr. George Stavrou
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • probiotics
  • prebiotics
  • postbiotics
  • synbiotics
  • health
  • gut motility
  • glucose tolerance
  • skin health
  • cosmetics
  • bone density
  • cardiovascular health
  • metabolism
  • cognitive function
  • mood
  • allergies

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 1815 KiB  
Article
Clinical Efficacy of Probiotics for Relieving Cold Symptoms in Healthy Individuals: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial
by Lisa Lungaro, Patrizia Malfa, Francesca Manza, Matilde Negrelli, Anna Costanzini, Diletta Francesca Squarzanti, Marta Lo Re, Alessio Cariani, Sara Ghisellini, Fabio Caputo, Alfredo De Giorgi, Pasquale Mansueto, Antonio Carroccio, Roberto De Giorgio and Giacomo Caio
Nutrients 2025, 17(9), 1490; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17091490 - 28 Apr 2025
Abstract
Background: Colds are widespread infectious diseases that affect daily life, increasing healthcare costs and limiting productivity. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a dietary supplement containing specific probiotic strains (L. plantarum PBS067, L. acidophilus PBS066, [...] Read more.
Background: Colds are widespread infectious diseases that affect daily life, increasing healthcare costs and limiting productivity. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a dietary supplement containing specific probiotic strains (L. plantarum PBS067, L. acidophilus PBS066, B. lactis BL050) on cold symptom relief, immune response enhancement, and quality of life. Methods This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial included 65 healthy volunteers (age range: 18–44 years), divided into two groups: 40 received the probiotic treatment (with vitamins and bulking agents), and 25 received placebo (vitamins and bulking agents only) for 12 weeks. Cold symptoms and systemic inflammation were assessed at three time points (baseline T0, post-treatment T1, and 6 weeks after treatment T2). Results: Probiotics were associated with a shorter average duration of cold symptoms (4.5 vs. 6.7% for Placebo, p < 0.05). At T1, fever and muscle pain occurred in 20% of participants in the Probiotic group vs. 28% and 44% in the Placebo group, respectively (p < 0.05 for muscle pain vs. Placebo). For muscle pain, a trend was maintained also at T2 (17.5% vs. 20%). The pro-inflammatory cytokine IFN-γ levels significantly decreased in the Probiotic group vs. T0 (p < 0.0001 at T1 and p < 0.01 at T2), while they increased in the Placebo group (22.279 ± 3.538 vs. 19.432 ± 3.143 pg/mL, p = NS). Although not statistically significant, at T1 the Probiotic group had higher levels of IL-10 vs. T0 (266.98 ± 78.432 vs. 240.967 ± 70.238, pg/mL p = NS). Conclusions: The probiotic mix effectively alleviated cold symptoms and reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, suggesting anti-inflammatory effects. Full article
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24 pages, 2661 KiB  
Article
Pleurotus eryngii Mushrooms Fermented with Human Fecal Microbiota Protect Intestinal Barrier Integrity: Immune Modulation and Signalling Pathways Counter Deoxycholic Acid-Induced Disruption in Healthy Colonic Tissue
by Evangelia N. Kerezoudi, Georgios I. Zervakis, Vasiliki Pletsa, Adamantini Kyriacou, Robert J. Brummer and Ignacio Rangel
Nutrients 2025, 17(4), 694; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17040694 - 14 Feb 2025
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Abstract
Background: This study explores the potential of the Pleurotus eryngii mushroom fermentation supernatant (FS-PEWS) as an intervention for mitigating sodium deoxycholate (SDC)-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction and inflammation. Methods: FS-PEWS was assessed for its protective effects against SDC-induced barrier dysfunction and inflammation using [...] Read more.
Background: This study explores the potential of the Pleurotus eryngii mushroom fermentation supernatant (FS-PEWS) as an intervention for mitigating sodium deoxycholate (SDC)-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction and inflammation. Methods: FS-PEWS was assessed for its protective effects against SDC-induced barrier dysfunction and inflammation using an in vitro Caco-2 cell model and ex vivo colonic biopsies from healthy adult donors, where barrier integrity, permeability, immunomodulation and receptor-mediated pathways were evaluated. Results: In Caco-2 cells, SDC exposure downregulated ZO-1, occludin, and claudin-1 expression, with FS-PEWS restoring ZO-1 and claudin-1 levels while maintaining cell viability. In colonic biopsies from healthy adults, FS-PEWS maintained tissue integrity and selectively mitigated transcellular permeability without affecting paracellular permeability when combined with the stressor. Additionally, FS-PEWS exhibited potent anti-inflammatory effects, reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines, e.g., TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β and modulating receptor-mediated pathways, i.e., TLR-4, dectin-1. Conclusions: These results demonstrate the potential of FS-PEWS to sustain intestinal barrier function and modulate immune responses under stress, highlighting its therapeutic potential for managing gut barrier dysfunction and inflammation associated with microbial metabolite-induced disruptions. Full article
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