Probiotics 101

Technology With Probiotic Production

by

probiotics-technologyA large number of probiotic strains are beneficial to the human health. However, many of the useful microflora of the gut and intestinal origin are non-culturable. Therefore, to become a successful probiotic product a strain in addition to its beneficial traits needs to be easily culturable. The bacteria could be cultured in bulk in easily available media. Modifications in the existing technologies have focused on increment in yields through bulk culture methods. This could produce large amounts of cheap probiotic strains. Another issue which requires to be addressed is the viability of the probiotic strains. The bacteria must be propagated and processed in ways which acclimatize it to the harsh environmental conditions that it will encounter once inside the human body before they could exert their effects.

Large Scale Propagation of Probiotics:

A bacterial strain could be in commercial demand for its ability to provide health benefits and the easy technologies involved in its large scale production. Therefore, efforts are being carried out to generate efficient culture techniques that will ensure the high yield of cells without compromising the stability of the probiotics in food or other related supplements. Since, many of the strains of intestinal origin with probiotic efficacy are difficult to culture and in order to have an impact on economy and health they need to survive. Also, development of newer technological strategies could only lead to diversification of the strains that gives rise to more efficient product generation. Until recently, the large scale production of probiotic strains have been carried out using conventional culture techniques. Some of the favored techniques include batch fermentation, suspension culture. [Read more…]

Co-Ordination of Probiotics With Prebiotics

by

probiotics-prebioticsMany human diseases have found the healing touch in a balanced diet with necessary supplements. The prebiotics are dietary fibers that have found application in many such cases. However, the polysaccharides cannot be digested by the human beings under normal circumstances. Therefore, a combination of prebiotics with probiotics (called synbiotics) can be the best remedy. e.g., fibers containing dietary supplements are advised to patients with chronic constipation problems but emerging results prove that an inclusion of probiotics can alleviate the problem manifold as compared to the intake of fibres alone.

Prebiotics Could Enrich The Probiotic Population

Although the human body lacks the polysaccharidases (the enzymes needed to digest the polysaccharides) to digest the prebiotics or the dietary fibers, when added to the nutritional regime of an individual have been found to cause sufficient health benefits. So, who can be reason behind their proper utilization? Studies have revealed that the microbes residing within the human gastro-intestinal linings have the necessary efficiency to degrade these saccharides. However, one major concern is that besides the beneficial microflora in the GI tract there is also pathogenic flora whose growth and proliferation rate needs to be curbed. A good prebiotic is one which will result in the enrichment of the growth of the probiotics specifically. Inulin like polysaccharides, galactooligosaccharides, fructans and some other classes of carbohydrate food have been reported to act as probiotic enrichment media. According to the work of Ranadheera and his group, the nutrition is one of the determining factors for the regulation of microbial colonization of the GI tract. The study also suggests that the bacteria may be buffered by the food and its functional components through the extreme conditions of the stomach. There are also possibilities of potential interactions between the substrates and the microbes. Gibson and Sanders have shown that an increase in prebiotic diet helps maintaining a good and healthy microflora of the host gut. Natural prebiotics are an essential ingredient of many food products that enhances the functionality of the probiotics. The contents of the food may be manipulated accordingly to increase the efficacy of the probiotics. e.g., prebiotics supplemented alongwith meat and diary products, beverages, cereals, baby food, etc to increase the efficacy of the beneficial bacteria. Many other food ingredients have been found to be effective for this purpose that includes whole parts and extracts of plants, microbial metabolites, fatty acids. Therefore, there is enough scope for the concomitant use of prebiotics and probiotics to exert a synergistic beneficial effect. [Read more…]

Probiotics for Men: What You Need to Know

by

Reaping the Benefits

probiotics-for-menSo what’s all the hype about probiotics? Are they really good for me? What will I gain if I go to the trouble of including probiotics in my diet? According to Dr. Oz, probiotics can help those who are lactose intolerant, help build the body, reduce cholesterol, and help alleviate gastrointestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome, excess gas, and constipation. But you do not have to take his word for it, a growing stack of evidence points to many benefits of taking probiotics, including better immunity, lower heart disease risk, and better endurance for athletes. For more specific benefits, check out the topics below.

Yeast Infections

If you think that yeast infections are just a plague for women, think again. Although male yeast infections are much less common than yeast infections, they do happen. According to Dr. Steckelberg at the Mayo Clinic, yeast infections can be spread to men through sexual intercourse. In addition, antibiotic use weakens the immune system and makes men more susceptible to many illnesses, including yeast infections. The use of Lactobillus acidolphilus, one of the more common forms of probiotics, is suggested by the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) to help rebuild the body after antibiotics. According to the UMMC, some research suggests that taking L. acidolphilus may help to prevent yeast infections. [Read more…]