The benefits of bacteria
April 2007 Filed in: Supplements
Probiotics can be helpful for those whom experience
bloating, abdominal discomfort or whom have taken a
course of antibiotics and a new study reports that
probiotics may help in the prevention of food
poisoning.
Caitlin may recommend a course of probiotics for some patients. She prefers that people take the probiotic in capsule form rather than in dairy products such as yogurts, and uses supplements from a high-quality source.
Probiotics are beneficial bacteria (sometimes referred to as "friendly germs") that help to maintain the health of the intestinal tract and aid in digestion. They also help keep potentially harmful organisms in the gut (harmful bacteria and yeasts) under control. Most probiotics come from food sources, especially cultured milk products. Probiotics can be consumed as capsules, tablets, beverages, powders, yogurts and other foods.
Probiotics are thought to be beneficial in two ways. First, probiotics reinforce the integrity of the intestinal lining as a protective barrier to prevent harmful organisms or materials from crossing into the body's bloodstream. Second, some probiotics have been found to secrete antimicrobial substances known as "bacteriocins," which inhibit harmful bacteria.
Researchers from University College in Cork¹, Ireland explained that Salmonella spp. infection is a major cause of gastroenteritis, with many thousands of cases reported in the European Union every year. The use of probiotics may potentially improve this situation.
The study investigated the effects of oral treatment of pigs with a defined lactic acid bacteria culture mixture on both clinical and microbiological signs of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium infection. Fifteen weaned pigs blocked by sex and weight were administered control milk or a mixture of five probiotic strains as either a milk fermentate or milk suspension for a total of 30 days. The mixture consisted of two strains of Lactobacillus murinus and one strain each of Lactobacillus salivarius subsp. salivarius, Lactobacillus pentosus and Pediococcus pentosaceous.
Following probiotic administration for six days, animals were challenged orally with serovar Typhimurium. The health of the animals and the microbiological composition of their feces were monitored for 23 days post-infection.
The study found that animals treated with probiotics showed reduced incidence, severity and duration of diarrhea. These animals also gained weight at a greater rate than control pigs administered skim milk. Mean fecal numbers of Salmonella were significantly reduced in probiotic-treated animals at 15 days post-infection.
Researchers concluded that the administration of probiotic bacteria improved both the clinical and microbiological outcome of Salmonella infection. These strains offer significant benefit for use in the food industry and may have potential in human applications.
¹ Casey PG, Gardiner GE, Casey G, et al. A Five-Strain Probiotic Combination Reduces Pathogen Shedding and Alleviates Disease Signs in Pigs Challenged with Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2007 Mar;73(6):1858-63. Epub 2007 Jan 19.
Caitlin may recommend a course of probiotics for some patients. She prefers that people take the probiotic in capsule form rather than in dairy products such as yogurts, and uses supplements from a high-quality source.
Probiotics are beneficial bacteria (sometimes referred to as "friendly germs") that help to maintain the health of the intestinal tract and aid in digestion. They also help keep potentially harmful organisms in the gut (harmful bacteria and yeasts) under control. Most probiotics come from food sources, especially cultured milk products. Probiotics can be consumed as capsules, tablets, beverages, powders, yogurts and other foods.
Probiotics are thought to be beneficial in two ways. First, probiotics reinforce the integrity of the intestinal lining as a protective barrier to prevent harmful organisms or materials from crossing into the body's bloodstream. Second, some probiotics have been found to secrete antimicrobial substances known as "bacteriocins," which inhibit harmful bacteria.
Researchers from University College in Cork¹, Ireland explained that Salmonella spp. infection is a major cause of gastroenteritis, with many thousands of cases reported in the European Union every year. The use of probiotics may potentially improve this situation.
The study investigated the effects of oral treatment of pigs with a defined lactic acid bacteria culture mixture on both clinical and microbiological signs of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium infection. Fifteen weaned pigs blocked by sex and weight were administered control milk or a mixture of five probiotic strains as either a milk fermentate or milk suspension for a total of 30 days. The mixture consisted of two strains of Lactobacillus murinus and one strain each of Lactobacillus salivarius subsp. salivarius, Lactobacillus pentosus and Pediococcus pentosaceous.
Following probiotic administration for six days, animals were challenged orally with serovar Typhimurium. The health of the animals and the microbiological composition of their feces were monitored for 23 days post-infection.
The study found that animals treated with probiotics showed reduced incidence, severity and duration of diarrhea. These animals also gained weight at a greater rate than control pigs administered skim milk. Mean fecal numbers of Salmonella were significantly reduced in probiotic-treated animals at 15 days post-infection.
Researchers concluded that the administration of probiotic bacteria improved both the clinical and microbiological outcome of Salmonella infection. These strains offer significant benefit for use in the food industry and may have potential in human applications.
¹ Casey PG, Gardiner GE, Casey G, et al. A Five-Strain Probiotic Combination Reduces Pathogen Shedding and Alleviates Disease Signs in Pigs Challenged with Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2007 Mar;73(6):1858-63. Epub 2007 Jan 19.