Probiotics: A Promising Microbial Functional Food with Diverse Health Benefits

Probiotics are living microorganisms that are consumed to get diverse health benefits. These probiotic organisms through four basic mechanisms aid and improve our health which includes synthesis of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), augmentation of epithelial barriers, immunomodulation, and production of neuroactive compounds. All these together help in alleviation of psychological disorders, dental caries, improves kidney disorder, helps in prevention of heart diseases, allergies like dermatitis, respiratory allergies and colon and other types of cancer. One of the most beneficial impacts of probiotics is prevention of inflammatory bowel disease. It eases inflammation by increasing the levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines and reducing pro-inflammatory levels. Probiotics also synthesis vitamins like Vitamin K, E, and antioxidants which prevent ageing, oxidative stress, cellular damage and apoptosis of epithelial cells. Probiotics have shown promising results in different studies and are thought to be an active component of alternative medicine with negligible side effects.