Abstract

A REVIEW ON PROBIOTICS

Mohammadi Begum* and Ayesha Begum K.

ABSTRACT

Probiotics are used in a large variety of fields relevant to human and animal health. For some decades now, bacteria known as probiotics have been added to various foods because of their beneficial effects for human health. The number of products containing probiotics, viable bacteria with proven health benefits, entering the market is increasing. Traditionally, probiotics have been associated with gut health, and the oral consumption of probiotic microorganisms produces a protective effect on the gut flora. Lots of studies suggest that probiotics have beneficial effects on microbial disorders of the gut. They are known to have a positive therapeutic effect against traveler’s diarrhea, antibiotic associated diarrhea and acute diarrhea. Use of probiotics helps to protect the host from various intestinal disorders by increasing the number of beneficial bacteria. The most commonly used microorganisms in probiotic products are the lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and it is important to know how these LAB affect the immune status of the consumer. The probiotic approach is attractive because it is a reconstitution of the natural condition which means repairing a deficiency rather than the addition of foreign chemicals to the body which may have toxic consequences or, as in the case of antibiotics induce resistance and compromise subsequent therapy. The discovery that probiotics can stimulate an immune response provides a scientific basis for some of the observed probiotic effects.

Keywords: Probiotics, lactic acid bacteria, gut flora, diarrhea.