What is probiotic? ( probiotic benefits )

What is probiotics.

Long back consumption of fermented food, specially of dairy origin, were thought to provide benefit in some disorder of digestive system, like diarrhea. Originally, when some of the bacterial species were identified, Lactobacillus bulgaricus in yogurt fermentation was considered to be the agent associated with the benefit. Later studies showed that Lactobacillus bulgaricus can neither multiply nor survive well in the gut environment. It was thought the acids they produce in yogurt, is probably provide the benefit by controlling the growth and survival of the microbes associated with the disorders.

Around that time a few researchers identified that Lactobacillus acidophilus, isolated from the stool of healthy persons, are: able to survive as well as multiply in the gut ( small intestine mainly) and some strains are able to attach to the intestinal epithelium cells and multiply. Lactobacillus casei was also found to have some of those properties. Early research on gut benefit of L. acidophilus was conducted in several well recognized universities, and a product, acidophilus milk ( in which live cells of specific strains of L. acidophilus were added added in high numbers [10v6-7/ml] to pasteurized milk) was marketed. Similarly a dairy based drink ( yakult) containing live cells of L. casei became very popular in Japan. This was around late 1960s and early 1970s.

Later, several more species of Lactobacillus were recognized to be of intestinal origin (means, the can survive and multiply well in the gut) and a few strains of a few species were studied and found to be beneficial.

Around mid 1970s' Bifidobacterium bifidum was recognized to be of intestinal origin ( large intestine). Later a few other Bifidobacterium species were identified.

Later investigations revealed that in the gut is populated with ( humans and animals) over 1,000 types of microbes, that include some undesirable types. There is a great interest to determine what roles they play in health and diseases.

The complete genetics of quite a few of the beneficial types have been completed and also being studied to understand the genetic basis of their beneficial roles. All these studies were at that time basically conducted in well recognized laboratories by expert researches.

The PROBIOTIC TERM was loosely attached to these specific species/strains of Lactobacillus, those have been studied and found to: survive, multiply,and some even can attach to the intestinal cells and when consumed live in very high numbers ( 10 v8-9 per day) for 10 to 14 days, provide benefit against some gut problems, mainly diarrhea caused by intestinal pathogenic microbe.

What are the benefits of probiotics? Why take them?

Knowing about Probiotics and their Health Benefits

Our alimentary system or the bowel is inhabited with millions of good and bad bacteria. The good micro -organisms may help with digestion and offer protection from harmful bacteria, just as the existing “good” bacteria in your body already do to improve the intestinal microbial balance.

According to the adopted definition by FAO/WHO probiotics are: “Live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host. The most common types of bacteria used as probiotics are Lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria, and certain yeasts and other bacilli may also be helpful”.

Probiotics are available as nutritional supplement which can be added to your diet or found in foods such as yogurt, fermented and unfermented milk, miso and some juices and soy drinks.

Probiotics may help and there is encouraging evidence that their beneficial effects on the following diseases:

Treat diarrhea, especially following treatment with certain antibiotics

Prevent and treat vaginal yeast infections and urinary tract infections

Treat irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

Reduce bladder cancer recurrence

Prevent colon cancer

Lowering cholesterol

Lowering high blood pressure

Improving immune function and prevent infections

Reduce inflammation

Improving mineral absorption

Speed treatment of certain intestinal infections

Prevent and treat eczema in children

Prevent or reduce the severity of colds and flu

In addition, some believe that probiotic supplements may improve general health. There are no side effects taking probiotics, but it is a good idea to check with your physician that they will not interfere with your medication.

•History of Probiotics

The idea of the positive role played by certain bacteria in the bowels was first introduced by Russian scientist and Nobel laureate Eli Metchnikoff, during the early 20th century. He suggested that the gut friendly bacterial inhabitants (flora) can destroy the harmful microbes, thus preventing diseases. He further said that the aging process results from the activity of putrefactive microbes producing toxic substances in the bowel.

•Toxin producing bacteria

Bacteria such as clostridia, forming a part of the gut flora produce toxins such as indols and ammonia from the digestion of proteins in foods. According to Metchnikoff these toxins cause “intestinal auto-intoxication”, which would be responsible for the physical changes as one age.

He also found that milk fermented with lactic acid bacteria inhibited the bacteria that caused toxins because of the low pH produced by the fermentation of lactose. This was the reason attributed to Bulgarians and Russians who lived largely on milk fermented by lactic acid bacteria were exceptionally lived longer.

These beneficial bacteria found in the gut more likely produces the desired effect in the gut. In 1935 certain strains of Lactobacillus acidophilus were found to be very active when implanted in the human digestive system. These organisms were used for the relief of constipation.

It was a scientist by the name of Kollath who introduced the term “Probiotics”. He pointed out that probiotics stimulated the growth of other microorganisms. In 1989 Roy Fuller suggested a definition of probiotics which has been widely used: “A live microbial feed supplement which beneficially affects the host animal by improving its intestinal microbial balance”.

•Lactose intolerance

Lactic acid bacteria actively converts lactose into lactic acid, ingestion of certain active strains may help lactose intolerant individuals tolerate more lactose than what they would have otherwise.

Health benefits of certain strains of Lacto-Bacillus

Prevention of colon cancer

In the laboratory trials some strain of Lactobacillus have demonstrated anti-cancer effects thought to be due to their ability to bind with heterocyclic amines, which are carcinogenic substances formed in cooked meat.

•Lowering cholesterol

Animal studies have demonstrated the efficacy of a range of lacto-bacillus to be able to lower serum cholesterol levels, presumably by breaking down bile in the gut, thus inhibiting its reabsorption, which enters the portal blood stream as cholesterol. Human trials have shown that dairy foods fermented with lacto-bacillus can produce reduction in the total and LDL cholesterol levels.

•Lowering of blood pressure

Some clinical trials have shown that consumption of milk fermented with strains of lacto-bacillus may result in modest reduction in blood pressure.

•Improve immune functions

Lacto-bacillus may protect against pathogens by means of competitive inhibition ( i.e., by competing for growth), and there is evidence to show that they may improve immune function by increasing the number of IgA- producing plasma cells, increasing phagocytosis ( killing pathogens by certain white blood cells), as well as increasing the T lymphocytes.

There are many other health benefits, such as decreasing the incidence or respiratory tract infections, dental caries in children, treatment and prevention of acute diarrhea and many others detailed earlier.

•Yoghurt and other supplements

The manufacturers of probiotic yoghurt claim their products can help relieve digestive irregularities and boosts the immune system.

Probiotic expert Professor Bob Rastall, head of Food and Nutritional Sciences at the University of Reading in the UK, firmly believes probiotics are useful for health.

He stresses that probiotics are considered by some as "functional foods" - products which have ingredients or components in them that can improve health or reduce disease risk in humans.

"But they're not drugs - they don't prevent or cure disease," he warns.

The gut is full of bacteria, and in the colon there's a very complex "bacterial ecosystem" involving hundreds of species.