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Probiotics in pediatric gastrointestinal disorders
1Centre for Paediatric and Adolescent Gastronenterology, Women's and Children's Hospital, North Adelaide, South Australia. davidsong@wch.sa.gov.au
Current Opinion in Pediatrics
|October 6, 2000
Summary
Probiotics are live microorganisms offering health benefits beyond nutrition. While widely studied, Lactobacillus GG specifically aids viral diarrhea but not bacterial infections, emphasizing strain-specific efficacy.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Human Nutrition
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Probiotics, defined as live microorganisms conferring health benefits, have a long history in human nutrition.
- Recent research focuses on their potential therapeutic applications for various health conditions.
- This review examines current literature on probiotic efficacy, safety, and mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent studies on probiotic health benefits in animals and humans.
- To discuss safety considerations and potential mechanisms of action for probiotics.
- To highlight the necessity of strain-specific evaluation for claimed probiotic benefits.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent, well-controlled clinical studies in animals and humans.
- Analysis of scientific literature on probiotic safety and mechanisms.
- Case study of Lactobacillus GG to illustrate strain-specific effects.
Main Results:
- Probiotics offer health benefits beyond basic nutrition.
- Lactobacillus GG demonstrated efficacy in reducing viral diarrhea severity and duration.
- No significant benefit was observed for Lactobacillus GG against bacterial diarrhea.
Conclusions:
- Probiotic efficacy is strain-dependent and condition-specific.
- Further research is needed to elucidate mechanisms and confirm benefits for various probiotic strains.
- Individualized assessment of probiotics is crucial for therapeutic applications.