PROBIOTICS
-RESEARCH FINDINGS AND POTENTIAL HEALTH BENEFITS
Inflammatory bowel disease   
Feillet H et al, Necker Hospital, Paris, France suggested that colitis onset
could be prevented by bacteria, bacterial extracts, or helminthes from
murine studies. The protective effect was exerted via regulatory cytokines
as observed from studies on cell cultures. [Curr Opin Gastroenterol. 2004
Nov;20(6):560-4] Â   Pena JA et al, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas,
reported Probiotic Lactobacillus spp. diminish Helicobacter
hepaticus-induced inflammatory bowel disease in interleukin-10-deficient
mice. [Infect Immun. 2005 Feb;73(2):912-20] Â   Food Allergy Bischoff S et
al, University Medical School of Hannover, Hannover, Germany suggested
that gut flora might protect against the development of allergic
disease.[Curr Opin Gastroenterol. 2004 Mar;20(2):156-61]

Phagocyte Enhancement
Lee Y and Lee TS, Seoul Women's University, Seoul, enhanced ex vivo
phagocytic capacity of peritoneal leukocytes in mice by oral delivery of
various lactic-acid-producing bacteria. [Curr Microbiol. 2004 Dec 21]

Hepatic Encephalopathy / Liver Cirrhosis
Jia L and Zhang MH, First People's Municipal Hospital of Guangzhou, China
found that probiotics may be safe and useful for the long-term treatment of
minimal hepatic encephalopathy from their study using rats. [World J
Gastroenterol. 2005 Feb 14;11(6):908-11] Patients with liver cirrhosis have
varying degrees of imbalance of the intestinal flora, Zhao HY et al, Beijing
Friendship Hospital Affiliated to Capital University of Medical Sciences,
found Probiotics effectively increased the Bifidobacterium count and
reduced the level of fecal pH and fecal and blood ammonia from their
clinical studies. [Chin J Dig Dis. 2004;5(2):64-7].

Colon Cancer
Approximately 70% of colorectal cancer is associated with environmental
factors, probably mainly the diet. Saikali J et al, Nutrition Research,
Palaiseau Cedex, France, reported the protective role of milks fermented
with probiotic cultures in colon cancer risk reduction in their review article.
[Nutr Cancer. 2004;49(1):14-24] Rafter J., Karolinska Institute, Sweden, has
a similar report on the anti-cancer effect of lactic acid bacteria. [Best Pract
Res Clin Gastroenterol. 2003 Oct;17(5):849-59].

Marotta F et al, University of Milan, Italy, found probiotics might exert
significant antimutagenic properties against colon cancer via decreased
fecal pH, specific reduction of carcinogenetic bacterial enzymes, modulation
of gut-associated and systemic immune system from their animal studies
[Hepatogastroenterology. 2003 Nov-Dec;50(54):1914-8] Major depressive
disorder (MDD)

MDD patients have been shown to have elevated levels of pro-inflammatory
cytokines, increased oxidative stress, altered gastrointestinal (GI) function,
and lowered micronutrient and omega-3 fatty acid status. Logan AC et al,
Nutrition Research Consulting, New York, suggested probiotics have the
potential to lower systemic inflammatory cytokines, decrease oxidative
stress, improve nutritional status, and correct small intestinal bacterial
overgrowth. Consequently, probiotics can be used as an adjuvant therapy
for people suffered from MDD. [Med Hypotheses. 2005;64(3):533-8]

Abdominal bloating / Intestinal Gas
People have an imbalance in their normal colonic flora, as some bacterial
taxa are more prone to gas production than others. Upon colonization of
probiotics, the probiotics seemed to be able to reduce gas formation. Two
studies are outlined as below:

Functional abdominal bloating is a condition dominated by a feeling of
abdominal fullness or bloating and without sufficient criteria for another
functional gastrointestinal disorder. Di Stefano M et al, University of Pavia,
Italy, suggested that the administration of probiotics to modify the
composition of colonic flora and thus the production of intestinal gas. [J Clin
Gastroenterol. 2004 Jul;38(6 Suppl):S102-3].

Nobaek S et al, Lund University Hospital, Sweden, reported that oral
administration of Lb. plantarum with known probiotic properties decreased
pain and flatulence in patients with irritable bowel syndrome.  [Am J
Gastroenterol. 2000 May;95(5):1231-8]




        
Prebiotics can potentially prevent and treat Crohn disease, pouchitis, and possibly ulcerative colitis. - Sartor
RB, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, [Curr Opin Gastroenterol. 2003 Jul;19(4):358-65]

The action of probiotics beyond simple barrier and antimicrobial effects. It has also confirmed that probiotic
bacteria modulate mucosal and systemic immune activity and epithelial function - Fedorak RN and Madsen
KL, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada [Curr Opin Gastroenterol. 2004 Mar;20(2):146-55]
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