Table 3. Baseline cytokine levels in the two groups.

Cytokine, pg/mL	Probiotics (n = 41)	Placebo (n = 41)	P value
IL-4	0.29 ± 0.26	0.26 ± 0.07	0.479
IL-5	3.90 ± 0.00	3.90 ± 0.00	1.000
IL-6	0.66 ± 0.92	0.61 ± 1.70	0.863
IL-10	0.95 ± 0.39	1.45 ± 2.23	0.810
IL-13	129.00 ± 24.60	125.20 ± 1.40	0.336
IL-17	0.43 ± 1.35	0.27 ± 0.76	0.505
IFN-γ	16.30 ± 4.20	15.60 ± 0.00	0.279
TGF-β	166,434 ± 36,403	179,179 ± 36,227	0.118

Data are expressed as means ± standard deviation.

IL = interleukin, IFN-γ = interferon-gamma, TGF-β = transforming growth factor-beta.