Probiotics, their health benefits and applications for developing healthier foods

According to the FAO and WHO in 20021, the definition of a probiotic is "live bacteria that when provided in suitable quantities confer health advantages to the host." Probiotics, on the other hand, are described as supplemental feeds containing live microorganisms that have a positive influence on the host species by restoring a healthy intestinal bacteria balance2. The initial purpose of probiotics was to enhance animal and human health by changing the composition of the gut flora.

There are already several well-characterized strains of Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli that are available for human usage as a means of either reducing the likelihood of intestinal (GI) infections or treating those that have already occurred3. The consumption of probiotics has been shown to promote intestinal health through the regulation of the microbiome, stimulate and strengthen the immune system, synthesise and enhance the absorption of nutrients, alleviate symptoms associated with lactose intolerance, and decrease the risk of certain other conditions4.

Probiotics, the Healthy Choice and its Benefits5,6:

Increased evidence from scientific studies demonstrating the health advantages of probiotic bacteria has led to a surge in their popularity over the past two decades. This has led to their incorporation into numerous product lines, with the food industry leading the way in terms of investment in related studies and promotion. In recent years, probiotics have emerged as effective treatments for a wide range of medical conditions, including but not limited to gastrointestinal problems including diarrhoea, constipation, inflammatory reactions, etc. Preserving health with probiotics relies on their ability to interfere with the pathogens found in the digestive medium through a process of competitive interaction. Because of their low risk, low cost, and efficacy against microbial diseases, the World Health Organization now considers probiotics to be an important part of the secondary immune system.

Probiotics are a promising medical therapy for a wide range of gastrointestinal and non-gastrointestinal diseases, including diarrhoea, constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel syndrome, asthma, atopic dermatitis, peptic ulcer, colon cancer, coronary heart disease, and urinary tract infections. Crohn's disease and vulvovaginal candidiasis in women are two other conditions where probiotics have found a place in medical practice.

Probiotics can help with a variety of digestive issues, including lactose intolerance, Helicobacter pylori infection, microscopic colitis, diverticulitis prevention and therapy, and even colon cancer. After being diagnosed with colic, some infants show improvement after receiving treatment with probiotics. When digested, Escherichia coli helps people generate vitamin K 95 and B vitamins. Recent studies have shown that a wide variety of probiotics can help with both antibiotic-associated diarrhoea and acute viral gastroenteritis (such as Clostridioides difficile toxin-induced diarrhoea). One study found that probiotics reduced the incidence of C. diff infection by half in those at high risk.

Streptococcal pharyngitis was found to be reduced with the use of probiotics, according to another evaluation of randomised controlled trials. Furthermore, probiotics help the body rid itself of chemical pollutants in food in a natural way. A wide range of chemical pollutants are produced by industries and agricultural operations, and some of these pollutants make their way into our food supply. Avoiding toxic dysbiosis brought on by environmental contaminants can be achieved with the use of probiotics in this case.

Future of Probiotics5:

Probiotic supplements are useful for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. This principle and promise for the future generation is currently widely accepted around the world. Probiotics are frequently used to treat and even prevent certain disorders. Future research should place a greater emphasis on designing and conducting in vitro and in vivo tests to find real probiotics and pick the most suited ones for the prevention/treatment of illnesses. Finally, we suggest further practical studies be conducted to validate its influence on human health through high-quality research and carefully organised clinical trials.

Reference:

  1. Guidelines for the Evaluation of Probiotics in Food.
  2. Fuller, R. Probiotics in man and animals. J Appl Bacteriol 66, 365–378 (1989).
  3. Salminen, S. J., Gueimonde, M. & Isolauri, E. Probiotics That Modify Disease Risk. The Journal of Nutrition 135, 1294–1298 (2005).
  4. Nagpal, R. et al. Probiotics, their health benefits and applications for developing healthier foods: a review. FEMS Microbiology Letters 334, 1–15 (2012).
  5. Abatenh, E., Gizaw, B., Tsegay, Z., Tefera, G. & Aynalem, E. Health benefits of probiotics. Journal of Bacteriology and Infectious Diseases 0, (2018).
  6. Kumar, V. et al. Probiotics media: significance, challenges, and future perspective - a mini review. Food Production, Processing and Nutrition 4, 17 (2022).