Currently the people of whole world facing the biggest challenges and problems of pandemic due to corona virus COVID 19, in that circumstances everyone looking for better options to enhance the immunity of the body to protect themselves from various viral and bacterial infections. It is also well understood by everyone that only the better immunity can help to protect the body from different microbial infections and others severe diseases.
Lots of nutritional supplements and functional foods are available which enhance the immunity of the body simultaneously fulfil the nutritional requirements. But these are not only sufficient to make the body fit and ready to fight against various outer enemies or several health problems.
Probiotic is now well established to fill this gap as it consists the group of live beneficial microbes which when administered in adequate amounts confer the health benefits on the hots and protect the body from severe infections and various health problems. These microorganisms also support healthy digestion and immune health system function. One of the most significant aspects of probiotics is that they have proven to be safe, cheap and capable of hindering with microbial infection.
We can get the benefits of probiotic through probiotic functional food and probiotic health supplements. These health supplements contain probiotic human strains which provides different health benefits to the consumers. People generally preferred to take fermented food or dairy products to full fill the requirements of probiotics. But this is not the right approach as to get the benefits of probiotic, it is necessary to take specific strains for specific health issues in adequate for better results. Therefore, selection of the correct probiotic human strains against the specific health problem is very important to know as different probiotic human strains have different functions. Also, it is necessary to take probiotic supplements on regular basis to maintain the microbial balance in the gut which is required to enhance the immunity of the body.
Common Genera of Probiotic Strains:
The Common genera of all probiotic strains are Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Bacillus, Streptococcus, Enterococcus, Lactococcus, Leuconostoc, Saccharomyces. Beneficial role of Probiotic microbes is strain specific, therefore the scientist and the researchers across the world, continuously working to explore the hidden facts and characteristics associated with the probiotic human strains and exploits them for the benefits of human health care.
Probiotic are Safe for Human consumption:
Human probiotic strains are generally not genetically modified and hence completely safe for Human consumption. Probiotics strains are involved in inhibiting pathogen growth by synthesizing several antimicrobial compounds, producing lactase, modifying gut pH and stimulating immunomodulatory cells. (Amara et al. 2015). WHO considered probiotics to be the next-most significant immune defense system when regularly given antibiotics are made ineffective by antibiotic resistance (called microbial interference therapy).
In general probiotic consumption is considered to be safe for human consumption and complications rare but probiotics should be avoided in critically ill patients. Snydman who published a review on the safety of probiotics points out that although case reports of bacteremia and endocarditis (Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG) as well as cases of fungemia (Saccharomyces boulardii) exist, epidemiologic evidence suggests that there is no overall increase in population-risk based on usage data.
Some of the best probiotic strains for health include:
- Lactobacillus plantarum (Lactiplantibacillus plantarum) inhibits the growth of harmful bacteria. They stimulate the digestive system, fights off disease-causing bacteria, and helps the body to produce vitamins.
- Lactobacillus acidophilus regulates stomach acidity levels.
- Lactobacillus paracasei (Lacticaseibacillus paracasei) strengthens the immune system.
- Lactobacillus fermentum (Limosilactobacillus fermentum) strengthens immune system and prevents gastrointestinal and upper respiratory infections
- Lactobacillus reuteri (Limosilactobacillus reuteri) supports heart health by balancing cholesterol levels. It also reduces ulcer-causing bacteria and supports female urinary tract and vaginal health.
- Lactobacillus rhamnosus (Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus) is naturally found in your gut, although you can eat foods or take supplements to increase its benefits. It's helpful in relieving IBS symptoms, treating diarrhoea, strengthening your gut health, and protecting against cavities.
- Bifidobacterium longum ssp. Infantis is commonly used to treat bowel problems, eczema, vaginal yeast infections, lactose intolerance, and urinary tract infections.
- Bifidobacterium bifidum can help manage your digestive system, improve IBS, and boost your immune system.
- Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. Lactis helps prevent infection. It helps to break down carbohydrates and synthesize vitamins.
Some probiotic strains clinically tested for gastrointestinal disorders
| Probiotic Strain | Clinical Condition | Effectiveness |
|---|---|---|
| Bifidobacterium lactis DN-173 | IBS | C |
| Bifidobacterium infantis 35624 | IBS | B |
| Lactobacillus reuteri protectis SD2112 (ATCC 55730 or DSM 17928) | Infectious Diarrhea Treatment | A |
| Lactobacillus. acidophilus CL1285 | Antibiotic associated diarrhoea Prevention | B |
| Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG ATCC 53103 | Antibiotic associated diarrhoea Prevention | A |
| Infectious Diarrhea Treatment | A | |
| Crohn’s Disease | C | |
| IBS | B | |
| Lactobacillus casei DN-114001 | Antibiotic associated diarrhoea Prevention | A |
| Infectious Diarrhea Prevention | B | |
| Saccharomyces Boulardii | Antibiotic associated diarrhoea Prevention | A |
| Infectious Diarrhea Treatment | A | |
| Infectious Diarrhea Prevention | B | |
| C.difficile-associated diarrhoea Prevention | B | |
| Crohn’s Disease | C |
Probiotic strains for Human Healthcare:
Probiotic beneficial microbes may play a role in preventing certain diseases such as diabetes and heart disease and also reduce inflammation and improve mood. Many different strains of probiotics are available, and they vary significantly in effectiveness. Most evidence suggests regular probiotics can help prevent colds and flu, boost immunity, and aid digestive health. However, there isn't much scientific data supporting claims that probiotics can treat any severe illnesses.
Some Common health benefits reported of probiotic strains are:
- Probiotic strains can help to improve the health problems related to heart.
- They can also help to provide relieve in the problem of lactose intolerance.
- They are helpful in various food and skin allergies.
- They can reduce inflammation in the vagina due to an overgrowth of bacteria.
- They can improve unpleasant odor in exhaled breath.
- They help to reduce the frequency and duration of diarrhea.
- Benefits in Diarrhoea: It is reported that Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG along with Lactobacillus reuteri and Lactobacillus casei have shown benefits against rotavirus which is responsible to cause acute infectious diarrhoea in paediatric populations. The data supporting the treatment of acute infectious diarrhoea with probiotics are much stronger. Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG is reducing both severity and duration of diarrhoea and reported most effective probiotic in case of acute infectious diarrhoea. Even the American Academy of Pediatrics supports the recommendation of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG early in the course of acute infectious diarrhoea to reduce symptom duration. Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG in association with Saccharomyces boualrdii were shown most convincing results in antibiotic associated diarrhoea. Lactobacillus casei in combination with Lactobacillus acidophilus have also shown effective results to reduce the risk of antibiotic associated diarrhoea.
- Benefits in Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is characterized by symptoms of abdominal pain and altered bowel habits. Several clinical trials have investigated the potential for probiotics as therapy in IBS. LGG moderately improves pain symptoms in children with IBS. With the study of Bifidobacterium infantis -35624 found significant reductions in pain, bloating, bowel movement difficulty and composite symptom.
- Benefits in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD):In inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), inflammation of the digestive tract can cause abdominal pain, diarrhoea, fatigue, and weight loss. The researchers speculate that probiotics containing the strain L. acidophilus LA-1could help treat inflammatory bowel disease and other conditions that involve gut inflammation.
- Benefits in Chronic or recurrent pouchitis: Chronic or recurrent pouchitis is an important complication occurring patients after ileal anal pouch formation surgery. Clinical expert-generated guidelines concur that probiotics (VSL#3) can be effective for preventing recurrence of pouchitis. But Society guidelines and expert consensus panels do not currently support a recommendation of probiotic use for any chronic liver disease associated condition.
Need of Potential and viable Probiotic cells for better results:
Only potential and viable cells can offer the benefits to their host. Maximum cells of probiotic strains are destroyed by stomach acid before they reach into the gut where they perform their maximum role. Probiotics should survive both gastric acid and bile to reach the small intestine and colon where they exert their effects. Therefore, only potential strains who can tolerate the low pH of the stomach and ensure the maximum delivery in the intestine to get the benefits from these strains. Viability can be analyse in terms of cfu (colony forming unit).
Potency and dosages:
There are several aspects that upset the concentration of beneficial microflora in the gut, so exosources should be used, which possess beneficial microbial strains. The proposed health benefits of Probiotics can only be attained when the product possess the necessary minimum viable microorganism (NLT 107 CFU/g) count at the time of consumption. Daily dosage of 100 Million to 1 Billion cfu probiotic microorganisms is very crucial to attain probiotic action in the human beings. (Knorr-1998). All probiotics works effectively, if taken after meals, when stomach acid is lowest to ensures maximum delivery to the small intestine where they reproduce rapidly.
Conclusion:
Viable Probiotic human strains in adequate amount confer the health benefits to the host. All probiotic strains are safe and have no severe adverse effect has been reported till date but simultaneously it is also necessary to choose the specific strains for a specific health problem to get benefits from these strains as all the strains have some specific roles which are different from each other. With the help of current article, we trying to share the information related to potential probiotic human strains available in the market in different health supplements and Simultaneously also trying to highlights some effective roles for human health care.
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