Abstract

PROBIOTICS- A NOVEL APPROACH FOR HEALTH BENEFITS

Shivendra Agarwal*, Raghvendra Misra, Prabhaker Vishvkarma and Amit Saxena

ABSTRACT

Probiotics provide therapeutic potential with the treatment as well as preventions of numerous human diseases. Randomized double-blind studies have provided evidence of probiotic effectiveness for the treatment and prevention of acute diarrhea and antibiotic-induced diarrhea, as well as for the prevention of cow milk–induced food allergy in infants and young children. 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. They are promoted to improve digestion, strengthen immunity, help in weight loss and even protect against periodontal disease, among other proposed benefits, as well as for general health. As a result they have been applied as various products with the food industry having been very active in studying and promoting them. Within this market the probiotics have been incorporated in various products, mainly fermented dairy foods. In light of this ongoing trend and despite the strong scientific evidence associating these microorganisms to various health benefits, further research is needed in order to establish them and evaluate their safety as well as their nutritional aspects. The purpose of this paper is to review the current documentation on the concept and the possible beneficial properties of probiotic bacteria in the literature, focusing on those available in food. Their benefits to human and animal health have been proven in hundreds of scientific research.

Keywords: Probiotics, Intestinal Microflora, Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Dairy products, Non-dairy products.