Probiotics

Probiotics means ‘let good microbes work for you in different fields get their benefits and take a rest’. The human gut harbours a complex community of bacteria whose relationship with their host is normally mutually beneficial. Recent studies suggest a disturbance of this relationship in GI diseases and the potential to correct this by using probiotics. Many authors have described the history and the progress of probiotics and their different applications. In this review, we will focus mainly on three points, health improvement, infection control and disease management, which could be eliminated by the use of different types of direct uses of probiotics.

Probiotics are live microorganism which when consumed in enough amounts exert health effects on the host. Several animal and human studies showed that probiotics have beneficial effects in prevention and treatment of some diseases. In addition to improving gut health, immunity and protection against harmful microorganism, antihypertensive, antioxidative effects, anticarcinogenic properties, improving arthritis, reduction of dermatitis, obesity, probiotics have been also studied for their cholesterol reduction effects. The purpose of this study was to review recent researches in to lipid profile improving effect of probiotics in animals and humans. Probiotics exert lowering lipid profile through several mechanisms such as deconjugate bile acids through bile salt hydrolase catalysis, take up and assimilate cholesterol for stabilization of their cell membrane and binding cholesterol to cell walls of probiotics in intestine; conversion of cholesterol into coprostanol, inhibit hepatic cholesterol synthesis by short chain fatty acids such as propionate produced by probiotic bacteria and/or redistribution of cholesterol from plasma to the liver. Certain strains of probiotics have demonstrated cholesterol lowering properties while others did not. However, not all the trials have yielded conclusive results. Thus, more properly designed in vivo trials may bring additional understanding to eliminate the controversies, to better understand the underlying mechanisms and for safety assessment prior to consumption.

Probiotics are the live microbial feed supplement which benefitted the host when administered in a certain number. Probiotics have been within our domestic use for as long as people have eaten fermented milk, curd, butter milk, but their association with health benefits dates only from the turn of the last century, when Metchnikoff drew attention to the beneficial effects of some gut microflora on the host, and suggested that ingestion of fermented milk products ameliorated this so-called auto-intoxication. Species of Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Bacillus, Streptococcus, Lactococcus and Saccharomyces are used as Probiotics. Probiotics are purposely used for their immunomodulatory, antilipidemic, antitoxin, antimicrobial and anti-allergic properties. There is an endless list of Probiotics properties. In spite of these properties Probiotics are immensely showing fruitful results against diarrhea and stomach disorders like Irritable bowel syndrome, Antibiotic associated diarrhea, Pancreatitis, Clostridium difficle infection, Radiation induced diarrhea, Traveler’s diarrhea etc. It increases IgA level and other immunoglobulins secreted cells in the intestinal mucosa and stimulate local release of interferons. It facilitates antigen transport to underlying lymphoid cells, which serves to increase antigen uptake in Peyer's patches. Present review has been aimed to discuss the role of Probiotics in diarrhea which is very common in developing countries like India. Keywords: Probiotics, Stomach disorders, Gastroenteritis, Irritable bowel disease