Prebiotics and synbiotics in asthma: an integrative review of human trials and murine meta-analysis

Bonnard, LC, Sharpe, GR ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4575-2332, Martin, M, Dodd, GF and Williams, NC ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2607-4572, 2026. Prebiotics and synbiotics in asthma: an integrative review of human trials and murine meta-analysis. Nutrients, 18 (4): 683. ISSN 2072-6643

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Abstract

Background/Objectives: The objectives of this study were to systematically review the literature on the effects of prebiotics and synbiotics on asthma control, lung function and asthma-associated inflammation from murine and human trials.

Methods: A systematic review was performed following the PRISMA guidelines across multiple databases. A meta-analysis was performed on murine trials assessing asthma-associated inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness, whilst a narrative review of human studies assessed asthma control, lung function, and inflammation.

Results: Seventeen studies met the eligibility criteria for inclusion; eleven murine studies were included for meta-analysis and six human studies were for narrative review. The meta-analysis revealed significant effects of prebiotics and synbiotics on multiple markers of asthma-associated inflammation. Prebiotic intervention significantly reduced airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and type 2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, IL-13) and various cell counts, including neutrophil, macrophage, lymphocyte, eosinophil, and total bronchoalveolar (BALF). Synbiotics were also effective in reducing type 2 cytokines, including, IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, and lymphocytes, eosinophils, and total BALF cell count. A narrative review of human intervention trials of prebiotics and/or synbiotics revealed improvements in lung function, asthma control, and systemic and airway inflammation.

Conclusions: This review indicates that dietary prebiotics and synbiotics may be suitable adjunct treatments to support asthma management, but further well-controlled human RCTs are required.

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	Nutrients
Creators:	Bonnard, L.C., Sharpe, G.R., Martin, M., Dodd, G.F. and Williams, N.C.
Publisher:	MDPI
Date:	20 February 2026
Volume:	18
Number:	4
ISSN:	2072-6643
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.3390/nu18040683 DOI 2601572 Other
Rights:	This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license.
Divisions:	Schools > School of Science and Technology
Record created by:	Jonathan Gallacher
Date Added:	20 Apr 2026 12:40
Last Modified:	20 Apr 2026 12:40
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/55569

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