Probiotics enhance the clearance of human papillomavirus-related cervical lesions

• DOI: 10.1097/cej.0b013e328355ed23
• Publication Date: 2012-06-15T10:53:47Z
• Authors: Veronique Verhoeven; Nathalie Renard; Amin Makar; Paul Van Royen; John-Paul Bogers; Filip Lardon; Marc Peeters; Marc Baay
• Keywords: Adult; Probiotics; Papillomavirus Infections; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms; Pilot Projects; Up-Regulation; 3. Good health; Young Adult; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Humans; Female; Human medicine; Neoplasms, Squamous Cell; Prospective Studies; Papillomaviridae

Probiotics have been proposed for a number of urogenital infectious conditions. In this study, we examine a possible effect on human papillomavirus (HPV)-related precancerous lesions in cervical cytology. We conducted a prospective controlled pilot study, in which 54 women with an HPV+low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion diagnosis in their PAP smear were followed for 6 months. The intervention group consumed a daily probiotic drink during the study period; the control group received no treatment, according to common care policy. Outcome measures were the control PAP smear and HPV status after 6 months. Probiotic users had a twice as high chance of clearance of cytological abnormalities (60 vs. 31%, P=0.05). HPV was cleared in 19% of control patients versus 29% of probiotic users (P=0.41). This exploratory pilot study suggests that the probiotic studied promotes the clearance of HPV-related cytological abnormalities. If confirmed, this would represent an entirely new option to manage cervical cancer precursors.