The effects of consuming probiotic‐fermented milk on the immune system: A review of scientific evidence

Fermented dairy products are commonly used as the most efficient delivery vehicle for probiotics. These foods are well known for promoting the positive health benefits of consuming probiotics. Among their beneficial effects, their immunomodulatory properties have attracted a great deal of interest in recent years. Reports, both in vitro and in vivo , on the beneficial effects of consuming fermented milks containing probiotics have demonstrated the enhancement of various parameters in animal (e.g. rats and mice) and human immune systems, such as the production of cytokines and mediators by antigen‐presenting cells and cellular markers for different cell populations. Hence, the purpose of this review was to provide an overview of the scientific literature concerning the potential of probiotic‐fermented milks to influence the host's immune system, thereby modulating the immune response in a positive fashion.