The microbiota could influence the lungs. Daily intake of probiotics would limit the risk of respiratory infections, especially in the elderly and obese.
- Taking probiotics daily could reduce the risk of respiratory infections, especially in older or overweight people.
- The intestinal microbiota has beneficial effects on a large part of the body: lungs, brain, immune systems, etc.
The brain, the immune, cardiovascular or even bone system… The intestinal microbiota influences a large part of the body. And researchers have just found a new organ that benefits from the microbiota: the lungs. Their work has been published in the journal Gut Microbes and are selected for presentation at the Digestive Disease Weeka medical congress to be held virtually from May 21-23. To reach their conclusions, the scientists analyzed data from more than 220 patients who had participated, for six months, in another study on weight loss and probiotics. Some took it daily, the others had placebos.
The gut microbiota does not only affect our gut or our liver
The microbiome is a part of the intestine where a whole set of microorganisms live: bacteria, viruses, parasites and non-pathogenic fungi. These are present in certain foods, such as pickles or plain yogurts, or in the form of tablets often called probiotics, sold in pharmacies. “The fact that introducing bacteria to your gut can reduce the risk of respiratory infection is not the most intuitive idea possible.explains Benjamin Mullish, one of the authors of the study. But it’s further evidence that the gut microbiome has a complex relationship with our various organ systems. It doesn’t just affect how our gut or liver works, it affects certain aspects of how our whole body works.”
27% fewer respiratory infections thanks to probiotics
According to the researchers’ findings, participants who took probiotics during the study had a 27% reduction in their common symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections – primarily cough, sore throat and wheezing – compared to the group taking placebos. This beneficial effect was all the more important in participants aged 45 or over, as well as in those suffering from obesity, who are more vulnerable to respiratory infections. On the other hand, the scientists note that the reduction in symptoms appeared within two weeks of using probiotics, which means that their action is fast. “It’s not just the intestine that sends the signals that affect the functioning of the lungs, emphasizes Benjamin Mullish. VSit works both ways. This is an additional argument to say that changes in the intestinal microbiome have repercussions on a large part of our health.“
Include probiotics in your daily diet
Due to their benefits on the microbiota, taking probiotics could have a preventive role for many pathologies, including respiratory infections. But how do you take care of your intestinal flora? The diet must obviously be balanced but also consist of prebiotics and probiotics that maintain the microbiota and boost the immune defences. Prebiotic foods – asparagus, bananas, dried fruits, grain products, etc. – increase the amount of good bacteria in the digestive system, while probiotics will feed these good bacteria. So you have to eat both daily. In addition, it is also recommended to take several courses of probiotic tablets during the year.
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