From the Research
Role of Vaginal Prebiotics in Maintaining Urogenital Health
- Vaginal prebiotics play a crucial role in maintaining urogenital health by stimulating the growth of protective vaginal microbiota, such as lactobacilli species 1, 2.
- Prebiotics are oligosaccharides that encourage the development of probiotics, which help to prevent vaginal infections, such as urinary tract infections, yeast infections, and bacterial vaginosis 1, 3.
- The use of prebiotics and probiotics can help to minimize the incidence of premature birth, optimize fertility, manage menopausal symptoms, and prevent vaginal infections 1, 4.
- Prebiotics can be delivered topically or systemically, and have the potential to optimize, maintain, and restore the ecology of the vaginal ecosystem 2.
- Specific carbohydrates, such as prebiotics, can provide a therapeutic approach for controlling infections by stimulating the growth of indigenous lactobacilli and inhibiting the growth and adhesion of pathogens to the vaginal epithelial cells 2, 3.
Mechanisms of Action
- The mechanisms whereby certain probiotic lactobacilli improve urogenital health include immune modulation, pathogen displacement, and creation of a niche less conducive to proliferation of pathogens and their virulence factors 3, 5.
- Probiotics and prebiotics can help to lower pH levels, produce bacteriocins, disrupt biofilms, modulate immune response, and produce hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), consequently combating the development of pathogens 1.
Clinical Evidence
- Clinical evidence supports the use of probiotic bacteria to reduce infectivity and improve urogenital health 3, 5.
- Probiotics offer a potential new means to prevent urogenital infections and help maintain a healthy vaginal ecosystem 3, 5.
- Despite the need for more clinical studies, the available data illustrate a case for inclusion of probiotics as part of the approach to disease prevention, and as an adjunct to antimicrobial treatment 5.