Beneficial properties of Probiotics

This review has focused on several beneficial properties of probiotics. One of the most known health effects of probiotics is preventing and ameliorating bowel diseases by improving the immune system. Besides that, probiotics are found to exhibit hypocholesterolemic effects via cholesterol assimilation, binding of cholesterol to cellular surface, co-precipitation of cholesterol, interfering with the formation of micelle for intestinal absorption, deconjugation of bile acids by BSH, and improving the lipid profiles. Apart from these conventional beneficial effects, probiotics have been reported to improve atopic eczema, wound and scars healing, and possess skin-rejuvenating properties. It has been suggested that probiotics could exhibit beneficial dermal effects by producing bacterial compounds which evoke certain immune responses and improve skin barrier functions. Probiotics could also be used to prevent and treat oral diseases. They are found to improve/prevent dental caries and periodontal infection via growth inhibition of cariogenic bacteria and periodontopathogens. Additionally, they have been shown to reduce the production of nitric oxide, which subsequently suppresses the prostaglandin and matrix metalloproteinases levels in saliva. Moreover, the unpleasant odour from the oral cavity in halitosis could also be ameliorated by inhibiting the growth of volatile sulphide-producing species. On the other hand, improvement of stress-related psychiatric disorders such as anxiety and depression via modulation of gut-brain axis by probiotics has also further emphasised the importance of probiotics. However, more scientific developments are needed to establish the potential application of probiotics. There is no doubt that the application of probiotics for human health will expand to a greater degree with the current significant research progress.

Shi, H. Y., Balakrishnan, K., Ismail M., et al. (2016) Beneficial properties of probiotics. Tropical Life Science. Aug 27(2) 73-90.

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