Probiotic reduces vaginal HPV abundance, improves immunity and quality of life in HPV-positive women: a randomised, placebo-controlled and double-blind study.
P Xu, U Mageswary, A A Nisaa, S D Balasubramaniam, S B Samsudin, N I B M Rusdi, A R A Jerip, C E Oon, M H A Bakar, D Rajendran, J J Tan, F F Roslan, S Sreenivasan, V Balakrishnan, S B Sany, C S Tan, M T Liong
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the main causes of cervical cancer in women, while there are currently no treatment nor intervention to reduce the concentration of cervical HPV. We thus aimed to investigate the effects of a probiotic Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Probio87 (orally administered at 9 log CFU/day) or placebo for 12-weeks, on reducing the abundance of vaginal HPV in HPV-positive women. A parallel, randomised, double-blind and placebo-controlled study was performed where women were randomised to either the probiotic (n = 44, mean age 41.70 ± 1.06 years) or placebo (n = 45, mean age 41.13 ± 1.20 years). After 12 weeks, the probiotic group showed reduced vaginal HPV abundance ( P = 0.001) and Nugent scores ( P < 0.001) as compared to the placebo. VAS and VuAS questionnaires showed that the probiotic group had improved vulvar dryness ( P = 0.023), soreness ( P = 0.049), social interactions, daily activities ( P < 0.05), and sexual activity ( P = 0.022) compared to the placebo group. Blood gene expressions showed that the placebo group had higher upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, P = 0.006; IFN-γ, P = 0.028) and T-cell markers (CD44, P = 0.008; CXCR5, P = 0.040; CD4, P = 0.016) compared to the placebo group, indicating increased inflammation. Neurotrophic factors BDNF and CREB were upregulated in the placebo group ( P < 0.05), with higher IDO ( P = 0.001) and TDO ( P = 0.036) expressions compared to the probiotic group, suggesting increased kynurenine pathway activity and stress. Overall, probiotic supplementation appeared to reduce the abundance of vaginal HPV, possibly by lowering inflammation and enhancing immunity while mitigating the negative impacts of HPV infection on quality of life in HPV-positive women. Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05316064).
期刊介绍:
Beneficial Microbes is a peer-reviewed scientific journal with a specific area of focus: the promotion of the science of microbes beneficial to the health and wellbeing of man and animal. The journal contains original research papers and critical reviews in all areas dealing with beneficial microbes in both the small and large intestine, together with opinions, a calendar of forthcoming beneficial microbes-related events and book reviews. The journal takes a multidisciplinary approach and focuses on a broad spectrum of issues, including safety aspects of pro- & prebiotics, regulatory aspects, mechanisms of action, health benefits for the host, optimal production processes, screening methods, (meta)genomics, proteomics and metabolomics, host and bacterial physiology, application, and role in health and disease in man and animal. Beneficial Microbes is intended to serve the needs of researchers and professionals from the scientific community and industry, as well as those of policy makers and regulators.
The journal will have five major sections:
* Food, nutrition and health
* Animal nutrition
* Processing and application
* Regulatory & safety aspects
* Medical & health applications
In these sections, topics dealt with by Beneficial Microbes include:
* Worldwide safety and regulatory issues
* Human and animal nutrition and health effects
* Latest discoveries in mechanistic studies and screening methods to unravel mode of action
* Host physiology related to allergy, inflammation, obesity, etc.
* Trends in application of (meta)genomics, proteomics and metabolomics
* New developments in how processing optimizes pro- & prebiotics for application
* Bacterial physiology related to health benefits