Title:Probiotics in the Mechanism of Protection Against Gut Inflammation and Therapy of Gastrointestinal Disorders
Volume: 20
Issue: 7
Author(s): Katarzyna Dylag, Magdalena Hubalewska-Mazgaj, Marcin Surmiak, Jakub Szmyd and Tomasz Brzozowski
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Probiotic, microbiota, inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, diarrhea, necrotizing enterocolitis, Helicobacter
pylori.
Abstract: A growing body of experimental and clinical evidence supports the hypothesis that the intestinal microbiota markedly influences
function and the structure of the mucosal lining. Intestinal microbiota can potentially cause damage to the mucosa either directly by
releasing toxins or indirectly by causing a detrimental immune response. Probiotic bacteria have been defined as live microorganisms,
which when consumed in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit for the host. In recent years, the therapeutic and preventive application
of probiotics for several gastrointestinal and liver disorders has received increasing attention. Probiotics appear to be beneficial for
premature infants who suffer necrotizing enterocolitis. The effectiveness of certain probiotics as treatment for infectious and antibioticassociated
diarrhea in adults and for allergic disorders in children has been supported by clinical studies; however, the potential mechanism(
s) remains to be studied. Experimental studies and clinical trials for probiotic treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) have
yielded conflicting results. Daily intake of selected probiotics was effective in the prevention of ulcerative colitis and the attenuation of
the active onset of Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis but others failed to show a beneficial effect. The combination of Lactobacillus,
Bifidobacterium, Saccharomyces boulardi and the treatment with Escherichia coli Nissle were found beneficial in inducing and maintaining
remission of disease activity of gut inflammation and moderately severe ulcerative colitis. Probiotic bacteria were considered in some
studies as a safe adjuvant when added to triple eradication therapy against the symptoms induced by the major gastric pathogen, Helicobacter
pylori. This review attempted to overview these new exciting advances in the role of these microbes in the pathogenesis, management
and treatment of gastrointestinal disorders.
