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Review
. 2023 Feb 9;12(2):280.
doi: 10.3390/biology12020280.

Effect of Probiotics in Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

May S Thu  1   2   3 , Thunnicha Ondee  4 , Tanawin Nopsopon  4   5   6 , Izzati A K Farzana  4 , Joanne L Fothergill  7 , Nattiya Hirankarn  1 , Barry J Campbell  2 , Krit Pongpirul  4   5   8   9
Affiliations
Review

Effect of Probiotics in Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

May S Thu et al. Biology (Basel). .

Abstract

Probiotics may have the potential to protect against breast cancer, partly through systemic immunomodulatory action and active impact upon intestinal microbiota. Given a few clinical studies on their curative role, we conducted a systematic review of the potential effects of probiotics in breast cancer patients and survivors of breast cancer, aiming to support further clinical studies. A literature search was performed using PubMed, Embase, and the CENTRAL databases from inception through to March 2022. A total of eight randomized clinical trials were identified from thirteen articles published between 2004 and 2022. We evaluated quality-of-life measures, observed bacterial species and diversity indices, probiotic-related metabolites, inflammatory biomarkers, and other responses in breast cancer patients and survivors. Results were synthesized qualitatively and quantitatively using random-effects meta-analysis. Different probiotics supplements utilized included Lactobacillus species alone (Lacto), with or without estriol; probiotic combinations of Lactobacillus with Bifidobacterium (ProLB), with or without prebiotic fructooligosaccharides (FOS); ProLB plus Streptococcus and FOS (ProLBS + FOS); and ProLB plus Enterococcus (ProLBE). We found that use of ProLBS with FOS in breast cancer patients and use of ProLBE in survivors of breast cancer show potential benefits in countering obesity and dyslipidemia. ProLBS with FOS use decreases pro-inflammatory TNF-α in breast cancer survivors and improves quality of life in those with breast-cancer-associated lymphedema. Supplementing probiotics capsules (109 CFU) with a prebiotic and using an intake duration of 10 weeks could provide a better approach than probiotics alone.

Keywords: breast cancer; cytokines; metabolites; prebiotics; probiotics.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 3
Figure 3
Meta-analysis forest plot for (A) body mass index (BMI) and (B) BMI by probiotic type.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Meta-analysis forest plot for (A) body mass index (BMI) and (B) BMI by probiotic type.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Meta-analysis for (A) percentage change in body fat (BF%) percent and (B) BF% by probiotic type.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Meta-analysis of body weight (A) and body weight by probiotics type (B).
Figure 6
Figure 6
Meta-analysis for waist circumference (WC) (A) and WC by probiotics type (B).
Figure 7
Figure 7
Meta-analysis for tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α).
Figure 8
Figure 8
Meta-analysis for high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP).
Figure 9
Figure 9
Meta-analysis of edema volume.
Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow diagram for identification of studies in the systematic review.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Risk of bias (ROB) analysis highlighting results in all domains examined within the 13 identified studies (A) and overall risk of bias for included studies (B).
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