Limosilactobacillus fermentum, Current Evidence on the Antioxidant Properties and Opportunities to be Exploited as a Probiotic Microorganism

The unbalance in the production and removal of oxygen-reactive species in the human organism leads to oxidative stress, a physiological condition commonly linked to the occurrence of cancer, neurodegenerative, inflammatory, and metabolic disorders. The implications of oxidative stress in the gut have been associated with gut microbiota impairments and gut dysbiosis. Some lactobacilli strains have shown an efficient antioxidant system capable of protecting against oxidative stress and related-chronic diseases. Recently, in vitro and experimental studies and some clinical trials have demonstrated the efficacy of the administration of various Limosilactobacillus fermentum strains to modulate beneficially the host antioxidant system resulting in the amelioration of a variety of systemic diseases phenotypes. This review presents and discusses the currently available studies on identifying L. fermentum strains with anti-oxidant properties, their sources, range of the administered doses, and duration of the intervention in experiments with animals and clinical trials. This review strives to serve as a relevant and well-cataloged reference of L. fermentum strains with capabilities of inducing anti-oxidant effects and health-promoting benefits to the host, envisaging their broad applicability to disease control.

Automated summary

Imbalances in oxygen-reactive species production and removal can lead to oxidative stress, which is commonly associated with various diseases. In the gut, oxidative stress is linked to gut dysbiosis and microbiota impairments. Some strains of Limosilactobacillus fermentum have been shown to have an efficient antioxidant system that can protect against oxidative stress and related diseases. This review summarizes the available studies on identifying L. fermentum strains with antioxidant properties, including their sources, administered doses, and intervention duration in animal experiments and clinical trials. The aim is to provide a comprehensive reference of L. fermentum strains that induce antioxidant effects and promote health, with potential broad applicability for disease control.