Probiotic Potential of Lactic Acid to Improve Immunity during COVID-19 Pandemic (A mini Review)

Persons with strong immunity are able to recover any infectious disease conditions within a short period. Main concern of this content is to support the principle that Probiotic (live microorganisms) can stimulate the cell mediated immunity and adaptive immunity. Probiotic microorganisms include Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Streptococcus are safe for human consumption. Curd, fermented milk product commonly known as “Dahi” is a well-known probiotic. Curd is easily fermented from milk of cows, buffalos or goats, soy by lactic cultures and it is inexpensive. Mammalian gastrointestinal tract is the largest immune organ. Probiotics can regulate immune and inflammatory response in the gut through their interaction with intestinal epithelial cells, M-cells in Peyer's patches, and dendritic cells. Not only gut epithelial cells, probiotics also effective for the upper respiratory tract mucosal system. Probiotics can increase intestinal IgA secretion and provide protection against infection. Probiotics maintain healthy intestinal microbiota; reduce the growth of pathogenic bacteria in the gut by producing bactericidal proteins and decreasing luminal pH. Curd has higher content of peptides, free amino acids, antioxidant activity and better protein digestibility than milk due to the proteolysis by enzymes secreted from present microorganisms in curd. However, it is established that the inclusion of curd as a probiotic in our regular diet helps to combat viral and other infectious diseases through enhancing and maintaining the immune system of our body. Curd is one of the worthy, easily available and inexpensive food items to build up immunity against infection.