Evaluating the Effects of Probiotic Supplementation on Neuropathic Pain and Oxidative Stress Factors in an Animal Model of Chronic Constriction Injury of the Sciatic Nerve.

Currently, neuropathic pain is an underestimated socioeconomic health problem affecting millions of people worldwide. Neuropathic pain occurs when a health condition affects the nerves that carry sensations to the brain. With neuropathic pain, the pain isn't typically triggered by an event or injury. Instead, the body sends pain signals to the brain unprompted. Neuropathic pain tends to get worse over time. As neuropathic pain could result from an imbalance in the oxidative/antioxidative system, antioxidant supplementation may be a treatment option. Oxidative stress is known to result in the occurrence of molecular mechanisms of diabetes, atherosclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, and damage to the heart, brain, or transplanted organs. Probiotics are made of good live bacteria and/or yeasts that naturally live in the body and have various health benefits. Consumption of probiotics alone or foods supplemented with probiotics may reduce cell oxidative damage. Incorporating probiotics in foods can provide an excellent strategy to supply dietary antioxidants. This study subjected rats to sciatic nerve ligation to induce neuropathic pain. The oral probiotics mixture was administered for 21 days post-surgery. The result showed that the probiotics mixture administration could reduce oxidative stress and pain in neuropathic pain rats. Therefore, probiotics can prevent and treat many systemic diseases in animal and human studies.