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Probiotics are: "Live beneficial bacteria which affect the host by improving its intestinal microbial balance" (Fuller 1989)
Most probiotics consist of lactic acid bacteria, such as lactobacilli, lactococci and bifidobacteria. These bacteria are also found in large quantities in the human intestines. However, several strains of streptococci, enterococci, pediococci, bacilli and some yeasts are also regarded as probiotic strains.
- A probiotic bacterial strain must be able to:
- survive the stomach acid and bile
- reach the intestines alive in adequate numbers
- be acitve inside the intestine
Intestinal microbiota
The human intestines contain an average of approximately 1014 microorganisms, made up of more than 1000 different species. These microbiota have a symbiotic relationship with the host organism and protect the body against infections, assist digestion, produce nutrients, and play an important role in the immune system. A good microbial balance in the intestines is essential for these functions and for the health of the host. When the intestinal microbiota is in balance, both beneficial and harmful microorganisms (pathogens) are present.
- This balance can be disturbed by factors such as:
- the use of antibiotics
- stress
- endurance sport
- an unbalanced diet
- drugs, pharmaceuticals, alcohol
- bacterial infection (spoiled food, travellers’ diarrhoea)
Intestinal microbiota management by probiotics
Probiotics are gut managers. They can act on three different levels to manage or prevent disturbances in the gut: microbe-microbe interactions (level one), microbe-gut epithelium interactions (level two) and microbe-immune cell interaction (level three).
- Read more about probiotics as gut managers in the following articles:
Health benefits of probiotics
Probiotics are used to redress and maintain the balance of the microbiota. The health benefits of probiotics are attracting a great deal of interest from scientists, as is apparent from the report of the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization, in which the various potential health and nutritional benefits of probiotics are evaluated This report notes the following problems associated with a disturb microbiota and concludes:
"The application of PROBIOTICS to prevent and treat these disorders should be more widely considered by the medical community."
Problems directly linked with the intestine: Problems indirectly linked with the intestine
Diarrhea Allergies
Antibiotica associated diarrhea (AAD) Cardiovascular disease
Traveller’s diarrhea Urinary tract infections
Infantile diarrhea (Rotavirus) Vaginal infections
Caused by food pathogens
Constipation
IBS/IBD
Helicobacter pylori infection
This website is only for B2B purposes, not for consumers.
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