Several recent studies have shown the effectiveness of probiotics in supporting the immune system. About 70% of our immunity is in the gut, facilitated by a symbiotic relationship between gut microbes and our immune cells. Supplementing with probiotics such as Lactobacillus acidophilus and L. plantarum may help your body fight off invaders and improve inflammatory response which helps to prevent many types of diseases and aging. In one study of 140 patients, the IgG, IgA and IgM were found to be higher in the group supplemented with probiotics than in the control group. There was also an improvement in inflammatory cytokines including IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α among supplemented patients.

Probiotics also show great potential for supporting the immune system during cold and flu season. In a study of 1979 adults who received a flu vaccine the authors concluded, “This meta-analysis suggested that probiotics and prebiotics are effective in elevating immunogenicity by influencing seroconversion and seroprotection rates in adults inoculated with influenza vaccines.”

In another study conducted on piglets the authors concluded, “Altogether, our data suggest that L. plantarum JDFM LP11 increases the diversity and richness in the microbial community and attenuates the ileal immune gene expression towards gut inflammation, promoting intestinal development in weaned piglets.” Other studies on chickens and crayfish have shown similar beneficial results of probiotic supplementation. In one study the authors state, “Therefore, dietary Lactobacillus supplementation can modulate the overall health and immunity as well as gut microbial composition and interaction network between gut microbiota and immune system…”

Interestingly, it has been shown that mothers can increase the immunity of their infants by taking probiotics as well. Mothers were randomized to receive placebo or Lactobacillus rhamnosus before delivery and during breastfeeding. Total numbers of IgM-, IgA-, and IgG-secreting cells at 12 months were higher in infants breastfed exclusively for at least for 3 months and supplemented with probiotics as compared with breastfed infants receiving placebo. Researchers stated, “We found an interaction between probiotics and breastfeeding on number of Ig-secreting cells, suggesting that probiotics during breastfeeding may positively influence gut immunity.”

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