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Probiotics: clinics and/or nutrition
1Institute of Microbiology, Catholic University "Sacro Cuore' Piacenza, Italy. morellitpc.unicatt.it
Summary
Probiotics benefit the gut microbiome and may prevent infections. This review distinguishes between their use as food supplements and clinical biotherapeutics, highlighting the need for mechanistic understanding.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Immunology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Probiotics are microorganisms conferring health benefits, primarily influencing the intestinal ecosystem.
- Their proposed actions include pathogen antagonism and immune system modulation.
- The concept has evolved from food supplements to nutraceuticals and clinical biotherapeutics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the distinct applications of probiotics in food and clinical settings.
- To delineate the boundary between probiotic food use and biotherapeutic applications.
- To emphasize the importance of understanding probiotic mechanisms for clear discrimination.
Main Methods:
- Literature review and conceptual analysis.
- Evaluation of existing clinical trial data supporting probiotic efficacy.
- Comparative assessment of probiotic applications in food versus medicine.
Main Results:
- Evidence supports specific probiotic strains for certain health claims, particularly in clinical contexts.
- Distinguishing between food-grade probiotics and clinical biotherapeutics remains challenging.
- Mechanistic insights are crucial for validating probiotic functions.
Conclusions:
- A clear distinction between food and clinical uses of probiotics requires deeper knowledge of their underlying mechanisms.
- Well-designed trials increasingly validate specific probiotic strains for targeted applications.
- Further research into probiotic mechanisms will refine their therapeutic and nutritional roles.