There is a long history of consuming fermented foods and beverages containing microorganisms to improve health. The term 'probiotic' is derived from Greek and means 'for life: As far back as 1908, Metchnikoff, the Nobel laureate, stated that 'ingested lactobacilli can displace toxin-producing bacteria, promoting health and prolonging life' (Elmer 2001). The term 'probiotics' was first coined in 1965 and has since been applied to those live microorganisms that are able to promote health when consumed in sufficient quantities (FAO/WHO 2001). This is in contrast to the term 'prebiotics' which are dietary components. Although it has taken the most part of a century for scientists to investigate their health benefits, there are now several thousand studies published on probiotics, the majority published since 2000.
Herbs & Natural Supplements: An Evidence-Based Guide p. 754-767