How probiotics affect immunity: what science says and why over-the-counter pills don't work "blindly"

Світлана Бурмей
1 day ago
3 min read

Біговий захід GoMove в Ужгороді за підтримки Ediens

With the onset of cold weather or during periods of stress, we are used to "boosting our immunity" with vitamin C, ginger, or echinacea. However, modern science proves that our immunity does not live in lemons. The main control panel of the body's defenses is located in our intestines and mucous membranes.

Scientists note that microorganisms automatically boost our immunity. But how exactly do bacteria protect us from viruses? And why buying an expensive probiotic with dozens of strains may not only not help, but also harm? Let's understand from the perspective of evidence-based microbiomics.

The language of bacteria: how microbes "communicate" with our immunity

Our gut is the largest immune organ. But immune cells don’t work alone; their main trainers are bacteria. The interaction of the microbiota with the immune system occurs constantly, forming the so-called immunomodulation.

How does this work in practice? First, beneficial bacteria produce postbiotics (products of their own life) and use molecules on their surface to literally “talk” to our immune cells. This communication improves both innate and adaptive immunity.

Second, the microbiota drives specific biomarkers of protection:

Secretory IgA: This is the main antibody on our mucous membranes (in the mouth, intestines, respiratory tract). When IgA levels are low, the mucous membranes become vulnerable to viruses, bacteria, and fungi. The right probiotics normalize IgA levels, restoring this “invisible shield.”
Control of inflammation: Opportunistic microbes cause an increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines (such as IL-6 and TNF-α). Beneficial bacteria, on the other hand, are able to suppress these inflammatory responses and stimulate anti-inflammatory agents (IL-10).

The 36 Strain Trap: Why Blindly Taking Probiotics Is an Illusion

Realizing that bacteria are beneficial, many people run to the pharmacy and buy a mass-market probiotic, the label of which proudly states “36 strains” or “15 types of bacteria.” Scientists, including Professor Nadiya Boyko, consider this approach extremely dangerous.

Imagine a closed club — it's your intestines, where all your own microbes have been sitting on their chairs for a long time. And suddenly you shove 36 new people in there and tell them, "Well, now go for a walk." People become very uncomfortable: neither those who were sitting, nor those who came.

By blindly injecting a huge number of strains unknown to your body, you risk destroying the remnants of your own unique microflora. In addition, many popular drugs (such as the hyped LGG strain ) often contain a lot of excipients and critically few live bacteria themselves, which turns treatment into business as usual.

The era of pharmabiotics: a sniper approach to immunity

Modern European medicine (in particular, the approaches promoted by the institute in Ireland and implemented in Ukraine by the Ediens company) has moved from conventional probiotics to pharmabiotics .

Pharmabiotics are new generation biological products with rigorously proven clinical efficacy. They are not prescribed at random. Before their creation, years of clinical trials (cohort trials) are conducted to prove that a specific strain of bacteria is able to specifically destroy the pathogen and boost immunity, without affecting the beneficial “residents” of your body.

A striking example is the author's pharmabiotic "ProfiLactOr" , created specifically for children (from 3 years old). Its formula has been proven to not only eliminate digestive problems (bloating, nausea), but also inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria and fungi ( Candida, Streptococcus, E. coli ), protecting the child from frequent colds, caries and inflammations.

4 steps to strong immunity through the microbiome

If you want to really strengthen your body's defenses, you need to act strategically:

1. Diagnosis instead of guessing .

Instead of drinking bacteria at random, do an in-depth study of your gut microbiota or mucous membranes (mouth, nose). This will allow you to see your unique formula and understand which ones you are missing.

2. Personalized correction .

Use targeted pharmabiotics tailored to your profile. They suppress inflammation and train immune cells, restoring balance in 14 days.

3. Feed your bacteria fiber.

If you populate your intestines with pharmabiotics but don't give them food, they will simply pass through. Eat a variety of plant foods, legumes, and beans to stimulate the growth of your own bifidobacteria.

4. Avoid hidden enemies of immunity.

Limit your intake of processed meats (which often contain hidden antibiotics) and artificial sweeteners (like aspartame), which raise blood sugar levels and encourage the growth of pathogenic bacteria.

Your immunity is not a lottery, but the result of the daily work of your microorganisms. Stop experimenting with pharmacy pills blindly. Invest in understanding your own microbiome - and you will receive reliable protection against diseases for many years!