The role of probiotic foods in acute pancreatitis: current status and future directions

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a global disease with a complex pathogenesis, while the intestinal environment has been shown to be closely associated with the onset and progression of AP. Currently, probiotic foods have garnered increasing interest as a potential treatment for AP due to their ability to improve intestinal barrier function, maintain intestinal immunity, and modulate intestinal microbiome. This review summarizes research advances in probiotic foods applied in animal studies and clinical trials of AP management, including the strains, dosages, and durations in probiotic foods, and conclusion, and further discusses the potential mechanisms for probiotic foods in AP. Despite promising results, several limitations and unanswered questions remain, including the optimal probiotic strains, timing of intervention, and guideline for the components of probiotic foods. Future large-scale, multicenter randomized controlled trials are needed to elucidate the efficacy and mechanisms of probiotic foods in AP and address these current gaps in knowledge.