Probiotics and Bardet-Biedl Syndrome: Exploring Gut Health as aTherapeutic Frontier

Bardet-Biedl Syndrome (BBS) is a disorder that causes defects in the cilia and containsmany related issues, including often-overlooked gastrointestinal (GI) issues. Regularly, itcauses patients to be constipated, bloated and uncomfortable in the abdomen, all linked to issueswith the gut and its ability to move properly. This report investigates whether probiotics mayhelp in managing these GI conditions, using extensive literature reviews on BBS, gut microbiotaand probiotics used for similar problems. Studies on Prader-Willi Syndrome and autism spectrumdisorder reveal that probiotics may promote more regular gut movements, control inflammationand increase contact between our gut and brain. Yet, important challenges in translationalresearch for BBS still exist, as there are no disease-specific clinical trials, probiotic strains andformulations differ, regulations are missing and safety issues arise because of complicationswith the immune and kidney systems. Because of these challenges, there is a need for focusedstudies to determine standard ways to give probiotics to these patients and how safe they areover the long term. In general, probiotics appear to be beneficial in managing GI symptoms inindividuals with BBS, though more extensive clinical research is necessary for mainstream use. These patients are likely to experience dysfunction of the digestive system and therefore probiotics,gut bacteria, dysbiosis, SCFA, disorders of the gut-brain link and supplemental therapymay be helpful.