Probiotics as an adjunct for the treatment of recurrent wheezing in infants and effects on expression of T-helper 1 and regulatory T cytokines

The co-administration of probiotics with inhaled steroids has been suggested as a potential treatment for recurrent wheezing in infants. This study aimed to elucidate if probiotics supplementation can improve the clinical parameters of wheezing and modify the expression of cytokines via T helper-1 and regulatory T cells. A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted in 60 infants with recurrent wheezing treated with beclomethasone receiving a mixture of probiotics (kefir) or placebo daily for 8 weeks. IL-10, IL-12 and IFN-gamma levels were evaluated by cytometric bead array (CBA) before and after 8 weeks of treatment for both groups. Probiotics mixture use was more likely to reduce the occurrence of wheezing during the intervention period and follow-up. There were significant differences in IL-10 and IL-12 levels in the blood cultures of infants who received the probiotics mixture. Thus, probiotics supplementation in infants treated for wheezing may have beneficial effect immunostimulatory. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.