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Probiotics Notes

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Probiotics Notes

Micro

Uploaded by

jyothi sai sri
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Probiotics

Definition: Probiotics are made of good live bacteria and/or yeasts that naturally live in your
body. Etymologically the term probiotic is derived from the Greek language meaning “for life”.
The most widely used definition which contributed to the development of the probiotic concept
in several ways was that of Fuller: “probiotics are live microbial feed supplements which
beneficially affect the host animal by improving microbial balance”. Prebiotic substances are not
hydrolysed nor absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract but are available as substrates for probiotics
and the most commonly used ones at present are nondigestible fructooligosaccharides. For
practical reasons the combination of probiotics and prebiotics has been described as conbiotics
by certain authors and as symbiotics by others.

Microbial Species with Applications as Probiotics

As far as nutrition is concerned only the strains classified as lactic acid bacteria are of
significance and among them the ones with the most important properties in an applied context
are those belonging to the genera Lactococcus and Bifidobacterium. Lactic acid bacteria are
Gram-positive, catalase-negative bacterial species able to produce lactic acid as main end-
product of carbohydrate fermentation. The genus Bifidobacterium is therefore rather traditionally
than phylogenetically listed among them as they use a separate metabolic pathway. Two other
species playing an important role in the food industry, particularly dairy products, although not
strictly considered as probiotics are Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactococcus lactis, two of
the most commercially important lactic acid bacteria.

Microorganisms considered as probiotics include

Lactobacillus species: L. acidophilus, L. casei, L. crispatus, L. gallinarum, L. gasseri, L.


johnsonii, L. paracasei, L. plantarum, L. reuteri, L. rhamnosus

Bifidobacterium species: B. adolescentis, B. animalis, B. bifidum, B. breve, B. infantis, B. lactis,


B. longum

Desirable Probiotic Properties: In order for a potential probiotic strain to be able to exert its
beneficial effects, it is expected to exhibit certain desirable properties.

(i) acid and bile tolerance which seems to be crucial for oral administration,

(ii) adhesion to mucosal and epithelial surfaces, an important property for successful immune
modulation, competitive exclusion of pathogens, as well as prevention of pathogen adhesion and
colonisation,

(iii) antimicrobial activity against pathogenic bacteria,

(iv) bile salt hydrolase activity.


Mechanisms of Probiotic activity: Probiotics have various mechanisms of action although the
exact manner in which they exert their effects is still not fully elucidated. These range from
bacteriocin and short chain fatty acid production, lowering of gut pH, and nutrient competition to
stimulation of mucosal barrier function and immunomodulation. Probiotics influence several
aspects of the acquired and innate immune response by inducing phagocytosis and IgA secretion,
modifying T-cell responses, enhancing Th1 responses, and attenuating Th2 responses.

Benefits of Probiotics

1. Probiotics and Food products: The main products existing in the market are dairy-
based ones including fermented milks, cheese, ice cream, buttermilk, milk powder, and
yogurts. The factors that must be addressed in evaluating the effectiveness of the
incorporation of the probiotic strains into such products are, besides safety, the
compatibility of the product with the microorganism and the maintenance of its viability
through food processing, packaging, and storage conditions. Microencapsulation
technologies have been developed to protect the bacteria from damage caused by external
environment.

2. Health benefits of probiotics: the claims of beneficial effects attributed to probiotics,


including improvement of intestinal health, enhancement of the immune response,
reduction of serum cholesterol, and cancer prevention. These health properties are strain
specific and are impacted by the various mechanisms mentioned above.

3. Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhoea: Mild or severe episodes of diarrhoea are common


side effects of antibiotic therapy as the normal microflora tends to be suppressed,
encouraging the overgrowth of opportunistic or pathogenic strains. The spectrum may
range from diarrhea without mucosal abnormality to pseudomembranous colitis. The
latter is a severe form of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea (caused by Clostridium difficile,
cytotoxic strains of which may emerge after antibiotic use). The name of the condition is
derived from the plaque-like adhesion of fibrinopurulent material to the damaged
mucosal layer and it is characterized by diarrhoea, abdominal distention, vomiting, fever,
and leukocytosis and if untreated might lead to complications such as toxic megacolon
and perforation. Treatment with probiotics has been used in clinical practice with L.
rhamnosus and Saccharomyces boulardii being administered. Several studies that have
been carried out suggest that probiotic use is associated with a reduced risk of antibiotic-
associated diarrhea. A recent meta-analysis evaluating the available evidence on
probiotics for the prevention and treatment of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea concluded
that probiotic administration- (namely, L. rhamnosus, L. casei, and the yeast S. boulardii,
as these are the probiotics predominantly included in the majority of trials) is associated
with a reduced risk of the condition.
4. Infectious Diahorrea: Treatment and prevention of infectious diarrhoea are probably the
most widely accepted health benefits of probiotic microorganisms. Rotavirus is the most
common cause of acute infantile diarrhoea in the world and a significant cause of infant
mortality. The virus replicates in the highly differentiated absorptive columnar cells of
the small intestinal epithelium and the normal microflora seems to play an important role
in the host response to the infection. Probiotic supplementation of infant formulas has
been aimed both at the prevention of rotaviral infections and the treatment of established
disease. Probiotics such as L. rhamnosus GG, L. reuteri, L. casei Shirota, and B. animalis
Bb12 can shorten the duration of acute rotavirus diarrhoea with the strongest evidence
pointing to the effectiveness of L. rhamnosus GG and B. animalis Bb12. The proposed
mechanisms include competitive blockage of receptor site signals regulating secretory
and motility defences, enhancement of the immune response, and production of
substances that directly inactivate the viral particles. In addition to rotavirus infection
there is evidence that certain food as well as nonfood probiotic strains can inhibit the
growth and adhesion of a range of diarrhoeal syndromes.

5. Lactose Intolerance: Lactose intolerance is a genetically determined beta-galactosidase


deficiency resulting in the inability to hydrolyse lactose into the monosaccharides glucose
and galactose. Upon reaching the large bowel the undigested lactose is degraded by
bacterial enzymes leading to osmotic diarrhoea. Lactose intolerant individuals develop
diarrhoea, abdominal discomfort, and flatulence after consumption of milk or milk
products. Yoghurt preparations, using S. thermophilus and L. bulgaricus, are even more
effective in this direction, partly because of higher betagalactosidase activity,
improvement of lactose metabolism is a claimed health benefit attributed to probiotics
and seems to involve certain strains more than others and in specific concentrations.

6. Probiotics and Allergy: Probiotics may provide safe alternative microbial stimulation
needed for the developing immune system in infants. In the same time they improve
mucosal barrier function, a property that is considered to contribute in moderating
allergic response. In a recent study of breast fed infants suffering from atopic eczema B.
lactis and L. rhamnosus GG were found to be effective in decreasing the eczema severity.
Furthermore L. rhamnosus GG has been found successful in preventing the occurrence of
atopic eczema in high risk infants, when supplied prenatally to selected mothers who had
at least one first degree relative with atopic eczema, allergic rhinitis, or asthma. The
mechanisms of the immune modulating effect of L. rhamnosus GG are not entirely
understood but seem be related to the antigen’s transport across the intestinal mucosa.

7. Other benefits of probiotics include decreasing cancer incidence by decreasing the levels
of carcinogenetic enzymes produced by colonic flora. Prevention of coronary heart
disease by reducing serum cholesterol levels as well as to blood pressure control and
prevention of bacterial vaginosis in women, Yeast infections, Urinary tract infections,
gum diseases, upper respiratory infections and sepsis.

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