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-γ 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.