HEALTHY WAY TO HEALTHY LIFE
Anmol Kaur1, Sanu Arora2 and Ravinder Nagpal1
Department of Biotechnology, Lovely Professional University,
Phagwara (Punjab), India.
Department of Biotechnology, Punjabi University, Patiala
History of Health Claims
Persian version of the Old Testament (Genesis
18:8) states “ Abraham owed his longevity to the
consumption of sour milk.”
In 76 BC the Roman historian Plinius
recommended the administration of fermented
milk products for treating gastroenteritis .
Metchnikoff claimed that the intake of yogurt
containing lactobacilli results in a reduction of
toxin-producing bacteria in the gut and this
increases the longevity of the host.
Probiotic ( Greek Language) “ for life” .
It was first used by Lilly and Stillwell in 1965 to
describe “substances secreted by one microorganism
which stimulates the growth of another”.
Parker was the first to use the term probiotic in the
sense that it is used today “organisms and substances
which contribute to intestinal microbial balance”.
In 1989, Fuller attempted to improve Parker’s
definition of probiotic with the following distinction:
“A live microbial feed supplement which beneficially
affects the host animal by improving its intestinal
The probiotic concept:
effects exerted by viable microorganisms
applicable independent of the site of action and
route of administration.
include sites such as the oral cavity, the intestine,
the vagina, and the skin.
In the case of probiotic foods, the health effect is
usually based on alteration of the gastrointestinal
micro flora and, therefore, based on survival
during gastrointestinal transit.
An edge over Antibiotics
Unpleasant side effects
Free from undesirable side effects
Where do Probiotics come from???
The micro biota of a newborn develops rapidly after
the birth .
It is initially dependent mainly on :
the mother’s micro biota,
mode of delivery,
and rarely genetic factors .
The maternal vaginal and intestinal flora constitutes
the source of bacteria, which colonizes the intestine of
After infancy probiotics are supplied to us by raw
foods; lactic acid fermented foods such as yogurt and
cheese; and probiotic supplements.
Microbiologically, the gut has three principal regions: the
stomach, small intestine, and colon.
The stomach has very low bacterial numbers
Facultative anaerobes such as lactobacilli, streptococci, and
yeast are present at ;100 colony forming units (CFU) per
millilitre due to the low environmental pH .
The small intestine has a larger bacterial load that consists
of facultative anaerobes such as lactobacilli, streptococci,
and enterobacteria as well as anaerobes such as
Bifidobacterium spp., Bacteroides spp., and clostridia at
levels of ;104–108 CFU/ml.
However, the colon, has a total population of 1011–1012
CFU/ml of contents
Factors affecting the intestinal
Any action taken to kill ‘bad’ bacteria
essentially kills ‘good’ bacteria as well.
Antibiotics and other drugs intake
Diet (highly processed, low-fiber foods)
Imbalance of intestinal
micro flora results in:
Poor nutritional response
Reduced efficacy of medications
Deficient immune response
Susceptibility to infection
Therapeutic Modulation of
The gut microflora is an important constituent in
the intestine's defence barrier.
Specific aberrancies in the intestinal microbiota
may predispose the host to disease.
The normal gut microbiota can prevent the
overgrowth of potential pathogens in the GI tract.
The protective and immune barrier of the human
gastrointestinal (GI) tract is diverse.
It includes :
the epithelial layer
the mucous layer
the mechanics of peristalsis
actions of secretory IgA
All of which impact bacterial attachment
After attachment, colonic bacteria are prevented
from mixing with the host’s eukaryotic cells by
the epithelial layer, which acts as a vital barrier to
Major pre-requisite properties for
a microbe to be accepted as a
It should be non-pathogenic, non-toxic and non-
It should be capable of surviving and metabolizing in
upper G.I. tract secretion in the gut environment e.g.
Resistant to low pH, organic acids, bile juice, saliva
and gastric acid.
It should be human in origin, genetically stable and
capable of remaining viable for long periods in field
It should be able to modulate immune response and
provide resistance to disease through improved
immunity or by the production of antimicrobial
substance in the guts.
It should have a good adhesion/ colonization to human
intestinal tract and influence on gut mucosal
It should be antagonistic against carcinogenic/
It should posses clinically proven health benefit, e.g.
gastrointestinal disorders, persistant diarrhoea,
clostridium difficle colitis, antibiotics associated
diarrhoea, acute infantile gastroenteritis.
It should have technologic properties for commercial
viability such as stability of desired characteristics
during processing, storage and transportation.
Established effects of
Aid in lactose digestion
Resistance to enteric pathogens
Anti-colon cancer effect
Small bowel bacterial overgrowth
Immune system modulation
Blood lipids, Heart disease
Mechanism for the benefit
Adherence and colonization of the gut
Suppression of growth or epithelial binding/invasion by
pathogenic bacteria and production of antimicrobial
Improvement of intestinal barrier function
Controlled transfer of dietary antigens
Stimulation of mucosal and systemic host immunity
(Harish and Varghese, 2006)
Advantages of Probiotics
Produce lactic acid- lowers the pH of intestines and
inhibiting bacterial villains such as Clostridium,
Salmonella, Shigella, E. coli, etc.
Decreases the production of a variety of toxic or
Aid absorption of minerals, especially calcium, due to
increased intestinal acidity.
Production of β- D- galactosidase enzymes that break
down lactose .
Produce a wide range of antimicrobial substances
-acidophilin and bacteriocin etc. help to control
pathogenic bacteria .
Produce vitamins (especially Vitamin B and vitamin K)
Act as barriers to prevent harmful bacteria from
colonizing the intestines
Effects of probiotics on
Probiotics reduce plasma levels of bacterial endotoxin
concentrations, by inhibiting translocation of bacteria
across the GI lumen into the bloodstream.
Decreases in translocation of bacteria may occur as a result
of the ability of probiotics to tighten the mucosal barrier.
There are several ways probiotic microflora can prevent
pathogenic bacteria from adhering and colonizing gut
Probiotics disallow colonization by disease-provoking
bacteria through competition for nutrients, immune system
up-regulation, production of antitoxins, and up-regulation
of intestinal mucin genes.
Probiotics lower colon luminal pH and foster growth
of non-pathogenic commensal bacteria by SCFA
(Short Chain Fatty Acid) production. One SCFA,
acetic acid, has antimicrobial activity against molds,
yeasts, and bacteria.
Probiotics exert protective effects through
production of hydrogen peroxide and benzoic acid,
which inhibit many pathogenic, acid-sensitive
Probiotics and Cancer
Enzymes (Glycosidase, B- glucuronidase , azoreductase ,
and nitroreductase ) of the intestinal flora convert the
precarcinogens to active carcinogens
Faecal concentrations of enzymes
Secondary bile salts
Reduce absorption of harmful mutagens that may
contribute to colon carcinogenesis.
Activity of L. acidophilus and L. casei supplementation
in humans helped to decrease levels of these enzymes
Several mechanisms have been proposed as to how
lactic acid bacteria may inhibit colon cancer:
Enhancing the host’s immune response
Altering the metabolic activity of the intestinal
Binding and degrading carcinogens
Producing antimutagenic compounds
Altering the physiochemical conditions in the colon
(Harish and Varghese, 2006)
Mechanisms by which probiotics may treat Hepatic
Decreased portal blood ammonia by reduced bacterial
Decreased pH due to less ammonia absorption
Less intestinal permeability and improved gut epithelium
Decreased inflammation and oxidative stress due to
reduced ammonia toxins
Reduced uptake of other toxins
Helicobacter pylori Infections
It the most common chronic bacterial infection in humans and causes :
Lymphoma and a number of non-gastrointestinal disorders.
In vitro studies have suggested that lactic acid bacteria may inhibit or
kill H. pylori by acting as a bactericide.
Bifidobacteria and B. subtilis may inhibit the growth or attachment of H.
Possible mechanisms by which L. salivarius eradicates H. pylori include
the ability of the former to bind to gastric epithelial cells, to produce a
high quantity of lactic acid, and to proliferate rapidly.
Use of probiotics beyond
Allergy: Probiotics have the potential:
To modify the structure of antigens
Reduce their immunogenicity
Reduce intestinal permeability
Generation of proinflammatory cytokines that are
elevated in patients with a variety of allergic
Probiotics in Pregnancy:
Bacterial vaginosis , increases the risk of preterm labour
and infant mortality .
Probiotics decrease the risk of bacterial vaginosis and
maintain normal lactobacilli vaginal flora
Studies using L. rhamnosus GG and B. lactis BB12 have
shown that atopic dermatitis, a condition that causes
severe skin rashes in up to 15% of babies, can be
prevented in 50% of cases if mothers ingest probiotics
during pregnancy and newborns ingest them during the
first 6 months of life
Use of probiotics
All probiotics works effectively, if taken after meals, when
stomach acid is lowest.
Stomach acid destroys up to 99.9% of probiotics, if taken
before a meal but only about 90%, if taken after meal.
Thus, after meal intake ensures maximum delivery to the
small intestine, where they reproduce rapidly, populating
They do most of their good work in the small and large
intestines, but they also help the mouth and esophagus to
A total of 169 Lactobacillus strains from 12
species (L. acidophilus, L. brevis, L. buchneri, L.
casei, L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus, L.
delbrueckii subsp. delbrueckii, L. delbrueckii subsp.
lactis, L. fermentum, L. helveticus, L. paracasei
subsp. paracasei, L. plantarum and L. rhamnosus)
isolated from raw milk and various milk products.
Probiotic strains currently
L. casei subspecies rhamnosus
L. delbreuckii subspecies bulgaricus
Strains of bacteria one should look
for in a probiotic:
It is important to choose a high quality formula that
contains the right strains of bacteria for optimum results .
It is best to choose a probiotic that contains the entire family
of lactobacillus bacteria.
The family members are : L. acidophilus, L. delbrueckii, L.
casei, L. bulgaricus, L. caucasicus, L. fermenti, L. plantarum,
L. brevis, L. helveticus, L. leichmannii, L. lactis, L. bifidus,
It is important that the complete family of 13 strains is
present. Most people don’t realize this family works in
harmony only if the complete family is present.
A good probiotic should have most of these strains:
Bifidobacterium bifidum - Protects the body against
invasive pathogens, salmonella and rotavirus. Helps
suppress tumors and reduce inflammation. Helps
protect against diarrhea and intestinal infections and
strengthens immune system.
Bifidobacterium breve - Helps prevent rotavirus-induced
diarrhea and activates your immune system. Also helps
Bifidobacteria infantis - Inhibitory effect on some strains
of E. coli. Protects against gastroenteritis (inflammation of
the stomach and bowels) and is useful in the prevention
and therapy of solid tumors (breast tumors).
Bifidobacteria lactis - Enhances resistance to oral
salmonella typhimurium. Enhances natural immune
function. Helps alleviate constipation, prevents diarrhea
and decreases chronic inflammation of the colon.
Bifidobacterium longum - Able to eliminate harmful
nitrates commonly found in foods. Inhibits the
development and growth of colon, liver and breast
cancers in laboratory animals. Helps prevent diarrhea
caused by antibiotic use, helps constipation and
reduces fecal odor.
Lactococcus lactis - A natural antibiotic that reduces
the ability of pathogenic microbes to grow and cause
Lactobacillus salivarius - Produces a high amount of
lactic acid, thus completely inhibiting the growth of
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacteria, which are now
known to be the major cause of peptic ulcers. It is also
effective against Salmonella typhimurium
Lactobacillus casei- Provides protective activity against
Listeria bacteria which have been found to cause the
inflammation and infection of the brain and spinal cord
(Spinal Meningitis). Inhibits activity in tumor cells and
stimulates beneficial activity in normal cells.
Lactobacillus reuteri - Controls Cryptosporidium parvum (C.
Parvum), a parasite that survives the chlorination process,
sometimes found in springs or water wells, infection causing
nausea, diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps. Beneficial in
the treatment of diarrhea associated with rotavirus, E. coli
Lactobacillus sporogenes – Can reduce LDL (harmful)
cholesterol levels, while increasing HDL (healthy).
Streptococcus thermophilus -Its antioxidant activity scavenges
the body for free radicals. Effective in maintaining vaginal
and intestinal health.
The term prebiotic was introduced by Gibson and
Roberfroid who exchanged “pro” for “pre,”
which means “before” or “for.”
A non-digestible food ingredient
• Selective stimulation
• Improved host health
Prebiotics acts as cofactors for probiotics.
Complex carbohydrates pass through the small
intestine to the lower gut where they become
available for some colonic bacteria but are not
utilized by the majority of the bacteria present in the
The main end products of carbohydrate metabolism
are short-chained fatty acids, namely acetate,
butyrate and propionate, which are further used by
the host organism as an energy source.
Concept of Probiotics and
Harish and Varghese, 2006
Food grade oligosaccharides in
Crittenden (1999) reported 12 food grade oligosaccharides
Glucosyl sucrose and Cyclodextrins
Gentio-oligosaccharides and Xylo-oligosaccharides.
The purely vegetable Fructo-oligosaccharides or
Fructofibres® consist of inulin and oligofructose, which are
Inulin and oligo-fructose, cannot be split by the enzymes of
the upper digestive tract and pass through the intestine
without being digested or absorbed.
They therefore have no significant calorie value (1–2
kcal/g). Components of food that cannot be broken down
by digestive enzymes pass through the small intestine,
intact, increasing bulk or faecal mass. They may then
undergo fermentation by the intestinal flora in the large
alter the intestinal
microflora balance in a positive way.
Fructofibres® stimulate the proliferation of the
health-promoting bacteria in the gastro-intestinal
tract and encourage their metabolic selectivity.
These effects promote a healthy digestive tract
and increased resistance to infection.
Characteristics of an ideal
It should not be hydrolyzed or absorbed in the upper part of G.I.
It should be a selective substrate for one or a limited number of
potentially bacterial commercial to the colon culture protagonist.
It should be able to alter the colonic micro flora towards a
healthier composition or selectively stimulates the growth and/or
activity of intestinal bacteria associated with health and well
It should help in increasing the absorption of certain minerals
such as calcium and magnesium.
It should or may have a favorable effect on the immune system
and provide improved resistance against infection.
Human could consume nearly 10 g of non-digestible
fermentable carbohydrates without noticeable side
effects and recommended a dose of 5 to 8 g of
oligofructose and 10 g of inulin per person.
Synbiotic = Probiotic + Prebiotic
The concept of synbiotics has been proposed to
characterize health-enhancing foods and
supplements used as functional food ingredients
in humans (Gibson, 2004).
Potential synergy between pro- & prebiotics
Improve survival in upper GIT
More efficient implantation
Stimulating effect of Probiotics
Some of the major health benefits of
Improved survival of live bacteria in food products, prolonged
Increased number of ingested bacteria reaching the colon in a
Stimulation in the colon of the growth and implantation of both
exogenous and endogenous bacteria
Activation of metabolism of beneficial bacteria, antagonistic
toward pathogenic bacteria
Production of antimicrobial substances (bacteriocins , hydrogen
peroxide, organic acids etc)
Anti-inflammatory, Anti-mutagenic, Anti-carcinogenic, and
production of bioactive compounds (enzymes, vaccines, peptides
(Nagpal et al, 2007)
Products in the international
market using synbiotic health foods
“On Guard” (Liquid yoghurt)
Orafti’s synergy- 1
Ja naturlich naturprodukte, Austria
Sudmilch / Stassano, Belgium,
LBL Foods, US
National Cancer Institute, USA
Administration of probiotics
“The specific microorganisms shall be viable, active &
abundant at the level of at least 107 cfu /g in the product to
the date of minimum durability”
Minimum Consumption: 100g of a probiotic food with 107
Food is regarded “functional” if consumed as part
of a usual diet, providing benefits to one or more
target functions in body, beyond basic inherent
The first functional food products were launched in
Japan where a food category called FOSHU (Foods
for Specific Health Use) was established in 1991 to
reduce the increasing health-care costs.
Use of functional foods for the
improvement of number of targets in
Gastrointestinal function, including the balancing of colonic
microflora and control of nutrient bioavailability, food transit
time, immune activity, endocrine activity, mucosal motility
and epithelial cell proliferation.
Antioxidant and redox systems require certain amounts of
vitamins as well as non-vitamin components like polyphenols.
Antioxidant and redox functions are important for all cells
and tissues; however beneficial effects have not been proven
except when consumed as a component of fresh fruit and
Xenobiotic metabolic activities and their control by some food
components such as glucosinolates, which are mostly nonnutritive. These functions may be important in controlling
toxicity and carcinogenicity caused by chemical contaminants of
the food and/or the environment.
Moods and behaviour as well as cognitive and physical
performances may be influenced by food components, though
there is a fine line between nutrition and pharmacology in this
category (Roberfroid, 1998; 2000).
Metabolism of macronutrients (carbohydrates amino acids and
fatty acids) and the related hormonal regulation e.g.
Probiotic based functional
Cultured Dairy Products
S. thermophilus, L. bulgaricus & L.
L. acidophilus, L. brevis, L. casei, L.
caucasicus, L. helveticus, L. lactis, L.
plantarum, S. cremoris, S. faecium
B. bifidum, B. longum
L. Lactis, S. cremoris
L. acidophilus, L. caucasicu
Consuming Functional Dairy products with
targeted therapeutic benefits can be a tasteful
and pleasurable way of healthy life.
Close network of medical experts, nutritionists
and microbiologists necessary to develop such
of information from research to
healthcare professionals to consumers is
necessary to derive maximum benefits.