““PROBIOTICS”PROBIOTICS” THE GOOD BUGSTHE GOOD BUGS

ByBy

Akash RazaAkash RazaAkash.raza@gmail.com

Dedicated to: Dedicated to:

Syed Ali Raza Syed Ali Raza My Senior in Zoology dept. UOG, who have My Senior in Zoology dept. UOG, who have started his work on the awareness about started his work on the awareness about

probiotics probiotics

What are probiotics?What are probiotics?

• Living microorganisms/food supplements Living microorganisms/food supplements which upon digestion in sufficient numbers, which upon digestion in sufficient numbers, have beneficial effects on human health.have beneficial effects on human health.

• Literally, pro- ‘for’ and biotic- ‘lifeLiterally, pro- ‘for’ and biotic- ‘life’• Probiotic- “for life”Probiotic- “for life”

BackgroundBackground• Origin of the probiotic concept Origin of the probiotic concept lie with lie with Elie Metschnikof Elie Metschnikof and his and his observations of the longevity of observations of the longevity of Balkan peasants who ate a diet Balkan peasants who ate a diet containing large quantities of containing large quantities of fermented milks.fermented milks.

Concept of Probiotics Concept of Probiotics • Our body is host to microorganisms or bacteria Our body is host to microorganisms or bacteria

that are essential to our health known as that are essential to our health known as gut gut flora flora or or normal microbial floranormal microbial flora..

• These bacteria may be beneficial or harmful.These bacteria may be beneficial or harmful.• Although beneficial microbial population gets Although beneficial microbial population gets

altered by use of antibiotics and other factors.altered by use of antibiotics and other factors.• By introducing friendly microbes in the form of By introducing friendly microbes in the form of

probiotics resident flora can be improved over a probiotics resident flora can be improved over a period of time.period of time.

Probiotic MicroorganismsProbiotic Microorganisms

• A very wide range of microorganisms have A very wide range of microorganisms have been considered to have probiotic properties.been considered to have probiotic properties.

• Lactic acid producing bacteria-Lactic acid producing bacteria- Lactobacilli and bifidobacteriumLactobacilli and bifidobacterium• Yeast(Saccharomyces) and others.Yeast(Saccharomyces) and others.

Status of probiotic cultures at Status of probiotic cultures at Global levelGlobal level• L. rhamnosus GG (Valio)L. rhamnosus GG (Valio)• L. caseiShirota (Yakult)L. caseiShirota (Yakult)• L. plantarum 299v (Probi AB)L. plantarum 299v (Probi AB)• L. johnsonii La7 (Nestle)L. johnsonii La7 (Nestle)• L. reuteri (BioGaia)L. reuteri (BioGaia)• L. acidophilus NCFM (Nestle)L. acidophilus NCFM (Nestle)• L. casei strain DN-114001 (Danisco)L. casei strain DN-114001 (Danisco)• B. animalis DN 173010 (Danisco)B. animalis DN 173010 (Danisco)• L. rhamnosus 271 (Probi AB)L. rhamnosus 271 (Probi AB)

Beneficial effects of Beneficial effects of probioticsprobiotics• Aid in lactose digestionAid in lactose digestion• Resistance to enteric pathogensResistance to enteric pathogens• Anti-colon cancer effectAnti-colon cancer effect• Immune system modulationImmune system modulation• AllergyAllergy• Blood lipids, heart diseaseBlood lipids, heart disease• Antihypertensive effectAntihypertensive effect• Urogenital infectionsUrogenital infections• Gut colonizationGut colonization

Effect of Probiotics on tight Effect of Probiotics on tight junctionsjunctions• Tight junctions are highly regulated Tight junctions are highly regulated

macromolecular structures that link epithelial macromolecular structures that link epithelial cells to one another forming an intracellular cells to one another forming an intracellular barrier.barrier.

• Probiotics reduce the levels of microorganisms Probiotics reduce the levels of microorganisms such as E.coli, and salmonella that attack tight such as E.coli, and salmonella that attack tight junctions.junctions.

• Probiotics restore and maintain the patency of Probiotics restore and maintain the patency of tight junctions, thus restricting pathogens into tight junctions, thus restricting pathogens into the bloodstream.the bloodstream.

Improvements for survival Improvements for survival of probioticsof probiotics

Heat from pelleting and long storage of Heat from pelleting and long storage of products may render the non viability of the products may render the non viability of the product. For improving the survival of probiotic product. For improving the survival of probiotic cultures following practices has been applied….cultures following practices has been applied….

PrebioticsPrebiotics

“ “Prebiotics are non-digestible but Prebiotics are non-digestible but fermentable oligosaccharides fermentable oligosaccharides that are specifically designed to that are specifically designed to change the composition and change the composition and activity of the intestinal activity of the intestinal microbiota with prospect to microbiota with prospect to promote the health of the host.”promote the health of the host.”

Fig. shows general structure of Fig. shows general structure of fructooligosaccharides.fructooligosaccharides.

SynbioticsSynbiotics

A synbiotics is a combination of one or more A synbiotics is a combination of one or more probiotics and prebioticsprobiotics and prebiotics.”.”

Probiotic ProductsProbiotic Products

• Yoghurts and related products-containing Yoghurts and related products-containing Lactobacillus acidophilus Lactobacillus acidophilus and and bifidobacterium bifidobacterium spp.spp.

• Other dairy products include cheese,ice-creams.Other dairy products include cheese,ice-creams.• Non Dairy productsNon Dairy products-Limited range of yoghurt -Limited range of yoghurt

analogues,usually soy based,cereal based fruit analogues,usually soy based,cereal based fruit drinks.drinks.

• Also available in the form of Also available in the form of tablets,capsulestablets,capsules..

Who needs probiotics?Who needs probiotics?

• People who suffer from yeast infections of any People who suffer from yeast infections of any kind, including athlete's foot, jock itch, vaginal kind, including athlete's foot, jock itch, vaginal yeast infections and nail fungus.yeast infections and nail fungus.

• People with weak immune systems,frequent People with weak immune systems,frequent respiratory infections and congestion.respiratory infections and congestion.

• People with food or respiratory allergies.People with food or respiratory allergies.• People suffering from inflammatory bowel People suffering from inflammatory bowel

disorders, constipation or intestinal infections.disorders, constipation or intestinal infections.

Contd…Contd…

• People who travel can avoid infections from People who travel can avoid infections from foreign food and water by taking probiotics foreign food and water by taking probiotics with meals.with meals.

• Probiotics can also be given to children and Probiotics can also be given to children and infants to reduce the risk of infection.infants to reduce the risk of infection.

Current problems with Current problems with “probiotics” “probiotics” • Extravagant claims without researchExtravagant claims without research– Specific species and strain effects

• Lack of good manufacturing practicesLack of good manufacturing practices• – Quality assurance• – Label vs content• – Viability of bacterial species

• Validated biomarkers for assessing function and Validated biomarkers for assessing function and activityactivity

• • No specific guidelines currentlyNo specific guidelines currently

Contd…Contd…

• Determine the role of probiotics as part of a Determine the role of probiotics as part of a whole food compared to isolated componentwhole food compared to isolated component

• Improve reliability and ease of taxonomic Improve reliability and ease of taxonomic classification of probiotic bacteria. Improve classification of probiotic bacteria. Improve strain performance and activitystrain performance and activity

• Efforts should be made to conduct clinical Efforts should be made to conduct clinical trials in Indian population for comprehensive trials in Indian population for comprehensive evaluation of the efficacy of the Indian evaluation of the efficacy of the Indian probiotic culturesprobiotic cultures

Why not in PakistanWhy not in PakistanDanone India introduced Danone India introduced

probiotic probiotic drink in Mumbai (08 Sep drink in Mumbai (08 Sep

2009)2009)• Groupe Danone of France (Danone India Pvt. Ltd) Groupe Danone of France (Danone India Pvt. Ltd)

has signed a joint venture with Yakult Honsha, has signed a joint venture with Yakult Honsha, Japan, to launch Japan, to launch YakultYakult drink in Mumbai, a global drink in Mumbai, a global probiotic health drink. probiotic health drink.

• In India, Yakult is priced at In India, Yakult is priced at

Rs 50 Rs 50 for a pack of 5 bottlesfor a pack of 5 bottles..

Eat Probiotics foods, live Eat Probiotics foods, live healthy lifehealthy life

So…..So…..

Eat the “good bugs” every day……….Eat the “good bugs” every day……….

Invite them in………..Invite them in………..

You will find they make very friendly You will find they make very friendly houseguests.houseguests.