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defined by their survival in the gastrointestinal tract and immunomodulatory effect.
Probiotic strains also have to meet the requirements associated with the technology
of their production. Throughout the storage and distribution processes, these probiotic strains have to be able to survive and maintain their properties. Probiotics
should also evidently have pro-health effects that is consistent with the characteristics of the strain present in a marketed product (Markowiak and Slizewska 2017).
Probiotic Guidelines (Anukam and Reid 2007):
1. Probiotic organisms must be living;
2. Identify the organism(s) to species level;
3. Have proven safety data;
4. Show physiological benefits when using a defined viable count of probiotics in a
defined delivery vehicle (food, capsule or whatever) in a defined patient
population, controlled by a placebo and/or standard therapy option if the end
outcome is treating a disease.
10.2.2 Commercial Forms
Probiotic organisms can be ingested into two main forms: (a) fermented foods and
(b) supplements. Both dairy and vegetable origin belong to fermented foods, with
the most commonly known of each being yogurt and sauerkraut, respectively. While
probiotic supplements can either be: freeze-dried (lyophilized) bacteria in powder,
capsule, or tablet form. To be effective clinically, commercial forms containing probiotic organisms must contain live organisms in sufficient numbers to exert therapeutic effects and these can be achieved using both forms (Khalighi et al. 2016).
10.2.3 Mechanism of Action of Probiotics
Probiotic bacteria have many functions in the host. However, there is no proper
documentation of the exact mechanism by which probiotics achieve their beneficial
actions on the host cell. Probiotics affect epithelial cells, dendritic cells, monocytes/
macrophages, T cells, and B cells of the gastrointestinal tract differently. This is
mainly because there are different genera and species of the bacteria and therefore,
their effects on cells vary. But there are several mechanisms that may explain many
of their positive effects, such as: modifying gut pH, antagonizing pathogens through
the production of antimicrobial compounds, competing for pathogen binding and
receptor sites as well as for available nutrients and growth factors, stimulating
immunomodulatory cells, and producing lactase. The gastric host defense mechanisms (eg. gastric activity and bile) is a harsh environment. To reach the small intestine and colonize the host, probiotics must survive this acidic environment so it can
exert its effect and be beneficial. Despite the differences between species and strains,
10 Prebiotics, Probiotics, Synbiotics and Its Importance in the Management of Diseases
defined by their survival in the gastrointestinal tract and immunomodulatory effect.
Probiotic strains also have to meet the requirements associated with the technology
of their production. Throughout the storage and distribution processes, these probiotic strains have to be able to survive and maintain their properties. Probiotics
should also evidently have pro-health effects that is consistent with the characteristics of the strain present in a marketed product (Markowiak and Slizewska 2017).
Probiotic Guidelines (Anukam and Reid 2007):
1. Probiotic organisms must be living;
2. Identify the organism(s) to species level;
3. Have proven safety data;
4. Show physiological benefits when using a defined viable count of probiotics in a
defined delivery vehicle (food, capsule or whatever) in a defined patient
population, controlled by a placebo and/or standard therapy option if the end
outcome is treating a disease.
10.2.2 Commercial Forms
Probiotic organisms can be ingested into two main forms: (a) fermented foods and
(b) supplements. Both dairy and vegetable origin belong to fermented foods, with
the most commonly known of each being yogurt and sauerkraut, respectively. While
probiotic supplements can either be: freeze-dried (lyophilized) bacteria in powder,
capsule, or tablet form. To be effective clinically, commercial forms containing probiotic organisms must contain live organisms in sufficient numbers to exert therapeutic effects and these can be achieved using both forms (Khalighi et al. 2016).
10.2.3 Mechanism of Action of Probiotics
Probiotic bacteria have many functions in the host. However, there is no proper
documentation of the exact mechanism by which probiotics achieve their beneficial
actions on the host cell. Probiotics affect epithelial cells, dendritic cells, monocytes/
macrophages, T cells, and B cells of the gastrointestinal tract differently. This is
mainly because there are different genera and species of the bacteria and therefore,
their effects on cells vary. But there are several mechanisms that may explain many
of their positive effects, such as: modifying gut pH, antagonizing pathogens through
the production of antimicrobial compounds, competing for pathogen binding and
receptor sites as well as for available nutrients and growth factors, stimulating
immunomodulatory cells, and producing lactase. The gastric host defense mechanisms (eg. gastric activity and bile) is a harsh environment. To reach the small intestine and colonize the host, probiotics must survive this acidic environment so it can
exert its effect and be beneficial. Despite the differences between species and strains,
10 Prebiotics, Probiotics, Synbiotics and Its Importance in the Management of Diseases