Effects of probiotic consumption on the immune system of athletes

Abstract

In recent years, probiotics have aroused the interest of athletes, because of them beneficial effects on the immune system. Athletes are a group of population exposed to a lot of stress and prone to catching diseases, so that it has become popular to use this type of supplements. The objective of this systematic bibliographic review is to take a look into the existing evidence, and determine which are the specific beneficial effects or changes on immunological parameters of healthy athletes. The analysed data suggest that few biomarkers of immune response can be modified by probiotics, but the heterogeneity of the results does not allow us to affirm general positive effects. Not all of genera and strains of probiotics are able to impact on the same parameters and modified them. Not many studies are analysing the same parameters so it is a handicap when results are compared between them. More research with improved methodology are needed in this area.