Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 18, 2026
07:15
An In Vitro Batch-culture Model to Estimate the Effects of Interventional Regimens on Human Fecal Microbiota
Published on: July 31, 2019
Prebiotics, probiotics and digestive health
Maya Balakrishnan1, Martin H Floch
1Digestive Disease Section, Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06510, USA.
Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care
|October 6, 2012
Summary
Probiotics show promise for treating various gastrointestinal conditions, including antibiotic-associated diarrhea and inflammatory bowel diseases. While some trials demonstrate benefits, further research is essential to fully understand their efficacy in restoring gut microbiota balance.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Microbiology
- Immunology
Background:
- The human gastrointestinal tract hosts a diverse microbiota crucial for health.
- Imbalances in colonic flora (dysbiosis) are linked to various gastrointestinal disorders.
- Understanding the gut microbiota's role in health and disease is an evolving field.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in the field of probiotics for gastrointestinal health.
- To explore the therapeutic potential of probiotics in managing gut microbiota-related diseases.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent scientific literature on probiotics and gut microbiota.
- Analysis of clinical trial data on probiotic efficacy for specific gastrointestinal conditions.
Main Results:
- Dysbiosis is implicated in conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel diseases.
- Probiotics and prebiotics are emerging as targeted therapies to restore nonpathogenic gut flora.
- Interest is high in using these therapies for childhood diarrhea, antibiotic-associated diarrhea, Clostridium difficile infection, IBS, and IBD.
Conclusions:
- Probiotic trials have yielded mixed results, with effectiveness varying across different conditions.
- Further research is necessary to establish the definitive role and optimal use of probiotics in managing gastrointestinal diseases.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Probiotics
Probiotics are live, non-pathogenic microorganisms that confer health benefits by modulating the gut microbiota. The human gastrointestinal tract harbors a complex microbial ecosystem, and the balance of this microbiota is crucial for digestive and systemic health. Among the most extensively studied and utilized probiotics are species formerly classified within the genera Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. These organisms not only naturally colonize the human gut but are also consumed through...
01:18Functions of the Gut Microbiota
The gut microbiota includes trillions of microorganisms that colonize the human gastrointestinal tract, including bacteria, archaea, viruses, and fungi. This complex ecosystem plays a critical role in maintaining intestinal and systemic health. Most of these microbes inhabit the large intestine, establishing a relatively stable and diverse community that contributes to gut homeostasis through various metabolic, immunological, and protective mechanisms.Dominant bacterial phyla, such as...
01:50What is Monogastric Digestion?
The human body contains a monogastric digestive system. In a monogastric digestive system, the stomach only contains one chamber in which it digests food. Several other animal species also have monogastric digestive systems, including pigs, horses, dogs, and birds. This chapter, however, focuses on the human digestive system.
01:29Bacterial Flora of the Large Intestine
The gut microbiome is formed by a vast and diverse community of bacteria that colonizes our large intestine. These bacteria start residing in the gut from birth and continue diversifying throughout life, influenced by factors such as diet, lifestyle, and stress. The gut bacterial community also includes bacteria from food and those that enter the colon through the anus.
The normal gut flora of the colon plays a critical role in generating essential vitamins such as vitamins K, B5, and B7.
The normal gut flora of the colon plays a critical role in generating essential vitamins such as vitamins K, B5, and B7.
01:27The Oral Microbiota
The oral microbiome includes a complex ecosystem comprising over 700 microbial species, identified through genomic sequencing and culture-based analyses to date. This community includes a core microbiome, found universally among individuals, and a variable component influenced by environmental factors such as diet, lifestyle, and host genetics. Site-specific conditions, including oxygen gradients, pH levels, and nutrient availability, determine the spatial distribution of these microorganisms...
01:30Development of Human Microbiota
The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from the skin...