Probiotics improve urogenital health in women

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Urogenital recurrent infections represent a global medical issue in the world, affecting millions of women because of dramatic shifts in bacterial composition and concentrations in response to numerous endogenous and exogenous factors. Urogenital microbiota forms a mutually beneficial relationship with their host and has a major impact on health and disease. AIM: This study aimed to compare probiotic therapy versus placebo in Oxidative Stress Values (OSVs) and histological features in urogenital infections in female patients. METHODS: Forty (n = 40) patients diagnosed with recurrent urogenital infections were recruited to be treated as test group (n = 20), receiving Probiotics, and a control group (n = 20), receiving looking similar placebo, both for 90 days. Both the groups were assessed for total oxidant capacity (d-ROMs test) and biological antioxidant potential as iron-reducing activity (BAP test) at baseline, after 1 and 3 months. Histological changes on inner vaginal mucosa were also investigated, during the entire study. RESULTS: d-ROM assay clearly showed that the values of the test group were significantly different, thus leading the general health conditions from a state of high oxidative stress to low oxidative stress levels. Increasing of BAP values were more significant, and clinically relevant, in probiotic test group over time. CONCLUSION: Our pilot study gave interesting and promising elements to confirm the safety and effectiveness of oral probiotics in preventing/reducing the recurrent urogenital infections by an overall modification of inner vaginal microbiota.