Preparations with probiotics and xylitol are useless in case of sore throat
Last reviewed: 16.10.2021
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Sore throat often accompanies sore throat, flu and other infectious diseases. Medics say that viruses are responsible for 80% of the viruses, and only 20% are microbes. One of the tips from the sore throat, which can be heard everywhere - is a recommendation to drink preparations with probiotics and xylitol. It is believed that such tools help to cope more quickly with the microbial invasion.
Probiotics are found in many drugs recommended for the restoration of qualitative intestinal microflora. Such medications are aimed at normalization of digestive processes, strengthening of immune defense, etc. As probiotics strengthen immunity, it would seem they are obliged to inhibit the spread of pathogenic microorganisms. The same can be said about xylitol. Xylitol is usually used as a sweetener, but it also has antimicrobial properties. At one time it was proved that xylitol creates a protective film protection on the mucous tissues of the nasopharynx, preventing the penetration of infection deep into the tissues.
However, as scientists from the University of Southampton have learned, both probiotics and xylitol can not help with sore throats. Dr. Michael Moore and his team performed an experiment in which a large number of voluntary participants with pharyngitis participated. Participants were asked to take medications with probiotics, or a "dummy" pill, and also use xylitol or sorbitol chewing gum. Sorbitol also played the role of a "dummy", since its antimicrobial effect has not been proven.
What was the surprise of the scientists when they discovered that, as with probiotics, both sweeteners and "pacifiers" had no effect on the sore throat. And the therapeutic effect was not observed either in cases of viral pharyngitis, nor in diagnosed bacterial disease. Moreover: the experiment lasted for four years, so specialists had a lot of time to trace the likely effect of a drug. If probiotics or xylitol had any therapeutic effect, then sooner or later scientists would be able to notice it. Therefore, the relevant conclusions were drawn: in reality, xylitol does not possess an antimicrobial property. As for preparations with probiotics, the truth is that they really activate immune defense. However, this activation is not enough to make the sore throat go faster.
What conclusion can be drawn from all the above information?
If you have a sore throat, then you should not experiment with the use of probiotic drugs and chewing gum with xylitol. It is necessary to go to the doctor and conduct adequate complex treatment with the use of antiviral or antimicrobial medicines.
Details of the study are published on the pages of the Canadian Medical Association Journal.
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