Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Prebiotics and probiotics for gastrointestinal health

2001; Elsevier BV; Volume: 20; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1054/clnu.2001.0403

1532-1983

P MARTEU,

Gut microbiota and health

Accumulating research evidence suggests that probiotics and prebiotics, which both influence the endogenous flora, may have a role in human therapies, especially in the prevention of digestive diseases. This article summarises the current knowledge on their fate in the gastrointestinal tract (survival, adherence, colonization, or metabolism), mechanisms of action, potential adverse effects and proven effects. It presents and comments on the results of randomized controlled trials using various probiotics to treat lactose intolerance, antibiotic associated diarrhoea, gastroenteritis, intestinal infections and colonization by pathogenic bacteria, and inflammatory bowel disease. Finally, the results of randomized controlled trials that used prebiotics to treat constipation and hepatic encephalopathy are also discussed, as well as potential applications, especially colon cancer prevention.