Brazilian researchers, using mice, have found that bread with probiotic yeast could be an effective method to prevent asthma. 

The team at the University of São Paulo (USP) and collaborators, developed bread containing a variation of brewer’s yeast – usually used to produce beer – that acts as a probiotic. Both probiotics (live ‘friendly bacteria’) and yeast are known to promote good gut health and overall immunity. 

The study – published in Current Developments in Nutrition – showed that mice, fed with this probiotic bread, had reduced inflammation of their airways and other indicators of asthma produced by the immune system and found in the bloodstream.

This research suggests that probiotic bread and accessible foods could be a viable method to reduce respiratory issues. 

Marcos de Carvalho Borges, the lead researcher at USP, said: “Bread is a natural food consumed by almost everyone including children. It’s easily distributed and has a good half-life on the shelf.”

Clinical trials are now the next step to evaluate its effects on humans.