Probiotics in human medicine.

Abstract

Probotics have been with us for as long as people have eaten fermented milks, but their association with health benefits dates only from the turn of the century when Metchnikoff drew attention to the adverse effects of the gut microflora on the host and suggested that ingestion of fermented milks ameliorated this so called autointoxication.Later work, based on the assumption that colonisation of the gut was essential for the maximum effect, used intestinal strains ofLacto- bacillus acidophilus for treatment ofconstipation. 1 The use of the term 'probiotic' to describe food supplements specifically designed to improve health, however, dates from 1974 when Parker used it to describe growth promoting animal feed supplements.He defined the term as 'organisms and substances which contribute to intestinal microbial balance'.I have recently2 revised this definition to read, 'A live microbial feed supplement which beneficially affects the host animal by improving its microbial balance'.This definition stresses the importance of viability and avoids the use of the too broad term 'substances' which could even include antibiotics.This report uses the revised definition and considers the evidence for the effect of live preparations on the human host.It also presents some evidence from work with animals which is helpful in understanding the potential benefits of this sort of treatment.

Keywords

Related Publications