185
• used for conditions like inflammatory bowel diseases, irritable bowel syndrome,
constipation, lactose intolerance, allergies, cancers, hepatic diseases, hyperlipidaemia, Helicobacter pylori infection.
The European Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN)
association recommends the use of established probiotics prophylaxis and treatment
of acute gastroenteritis in kids. The specific probiotic strain Lactobacillus rhamnosus
GG is effective in preventing antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Sachromyces boulardii,
Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, and Lactobacillus reuteri are probiotics of choice in
treating acute gastroenteritis, IBS and antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Bifidobacterium
animalis prevent nosocomial infections and Bifidobacterium lactis treats constipation in children. The efficacy of probiotics is related to ingested amount and the
dosage of consumption (Wang et al. 2016).
10.6.1.1 Mechanisms of Action
The probiotics are strain-specific and show effectiveness for integrity of the epithelium and regulate immune components. The gastrointestinal tract i.e., from the oral
cavity to the anus, has the largest immune interface while regulating immune
responses in complex manner. That is why the epithelium of the gastrointestinal
tract is mainly taken into account while studying the mechanism of action of a probiotic. Probiotic bacteria bind to a virus invader and inhibit its binding to the receptor of the host cell. The lactic acid bacteria show antiviral activity by (Tapiovaara,
et al. 2016):
1. Interacting directly as an absorptive mechanism or trapping mechanism;
2. Immune system stimulation by natural killer cells, interleukin, immune response
activity of Th1 and IgA production;
3. Production of antiviral agents like H 2 O 2 , lactic acid, and bacteriocins.
10.6.2 Respiratory System
Probiotic consumption reduces the occurrence of respiratory tract infections (RTIs)
in kids. Lactobacillus rhamnosus is one of commonly used probiotics. The benefits
of probiotics in GI disorders are similar with the effects found in upper respiratory
infections. However, there is little information regarding colonization in upper
respiratory tract epithelium and possible colonization of the related mucosal tissues.
Probiotics’ mechanism of action in the upper respiratory tract (URT) is still
under scrutiny. However, the mechanism in the URT is linked with the mechanism
in the GIT.
Like in the GIT, probiotic bacteria could bind to a pathogen (virus) which results
in the inhibition of that pathogen’s attachment to the receptor of the host-cell. Lactic
acid bacteria’s antiviral activity can be by the following mechanisms: (1) direct
10 Prebiotics, Probiotics, Synbiotics and Its Importance in the Management of Diseases
• used for conditions like inflammatory bowel diseases, irritable bowel syndrome,
constipation, lactose intolerance, allergies, cancers, hepatic diseases, hyperlipidaemia, Helicobacter pylori infection.
The European Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN)
association recommends the use of established probiotics prophylaxis and treatment
of acute gastroenteritis in kids. The specific probiotic strain Lactobacillus rhamnosus
GG is effective in preventing antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Sachromyces boulardii,
Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, and Lactobacillus reuteri are probiotics of choice in
treating acute gastroenteritis, IBS and antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Bifidobacterium
animalis prevent nosocomial infections and Bifidobacterium lactis treats constipation in children. The efficacy of probiotics is related to ingested amount and the
dosage of consumption (Wang et al. 2016).
10.6.1.1 Mechanisms of Action
The probiotics are strain-specific and show effectiveness for integrity of the epithelium and regulate immune components. The gastrointestinal tract i.e., from the oral
cavity to the anus, has the largest immune interface while regulating immune
responses in complex manner. That is why the epithelium of the gastrointestinal
tract is mainly taken into account while studying the mechanism of action of a probiotic. Probiotic bacteria bind to a virus invader and inhibit its binding to the receptor of the host cell. The lactic acid bacteria show antiviral activity by (Tapiovaara,
et al. 2016):
1. Interacting directly as an absorptive mechanism or trapping mechanism;
2. Immune system stimulation by natural killer cells, interleukin, immune response
activity of Th1 and IgA production;
3. Production of antiviral agents like H 2 O 2 , lactic acid, and bacteriocins.
10.6.2 Respiratory System
Probiotic consumption reduces the occurrence of respiratory tract infections (RTIs)
in kids. Lactobacillus rhamnosus is one of commonly used probiotics. The benefits
of probiotics in GI disorders are similar with the effects found in upper respiratory
infections. However, there is little information regarding colonization in upper
respiratory tract epithelium and possible colonization of the related mucosal tissues.
Probiotics’ mechanism of action in the upper respiratory tract (URT) is still
under scrutiny. However, the mechanism in the URT is linked with the mechanism
in the GIT.
Like in the GIT, probiotic bacteria could bind to a pathogen (virus) which results
in the inhibition of that pathogen’s attachment to the receptor of the host-cell. Lactic
acid bacteria’s antiviral activity can be by the following mechanisms: (1) direct
10 Prebiotics, Probiotics, Synbiotics and Its Importance in the Management of Diseases