Probiotics and Immunity
Probiotic bacteria are shown to promote the endogenous host defense mechanisms. In addition to the stabilization of the gut microflora, probiotics have been shown to enhance humoral immune responses and thereby promote the intestine’s immunologic barrier.Moreover, probiotics modulate the host’s immune responses to harmful antigens with a potential to down-regulate hypersensitivity reactions. Probiotics also increase […]
Probiotics and Women’s health
Urogenital tract infections are being increasingly recognized as a serious global health problem in women. They can have severe consequences, including infertility, ectopic pregnancy, chronic pelvic pain and miscarriage.In women, Lactobacilli species are the predominant vaginal microorganisms. When the normal vaginal microflora is disrupted (due to poor hygiene and use of broad-spectrum antibiotics), overgrowth of […]
Probiotics and Gastrointestinal Health
More than 1000 different bacterial species reside in the adult gastrointestinal tract. Some microbes are considered beneficial to the human host, while others are pathogenic. An appropriate balance of gut flora is generally maintained; However, infectious diarrhea, usage of antibiotics, immunosuppressive medications, surgery, and irradiation can cause an increase in the pathogenic bacteria and disrupt […]
About Probiotics
Probiotic bacteria have become increasingly popular during the last two decades as a result of the continuously expanding scientific evidence pointing to their beneficial effects on human health. The term probiotic was initially used in the 1960s and comes from a Greek word meaning “for life.”Probiotics have been defined as “live microorganisms which when administered […]
Probiotics in Healthcare
Probiotics supplements have now been embraced and accepted as agents that can bring significant health benefits: Enhancement of the immune system. Antimicrobial effects inhibiting intestinal and food poisoning pathogens. Improvement of gut function by normalizing microflora balance, reducing constipation and improving intestinal mobility. Treatment of diarrhea including infantile, traveller’s and antibiotic induced diarrhea. Nutraceutical effects including […]
History of Probiotics
Probiotics in the form of substances containing Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium cultures have been used for centuries as food preservatives and natural sources to promote good human health without specific knowledge of their active ingredients or how they work. Lactobacillus was first identified by Pasteur (1845 – 1895) in France, the pioneer of modern microbiology. A […]
