The effect of a probiotic composed of Bacillus, Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, Saccharomyces and Candida species (each at 10(7-8) colony-forming units (cfu)/g rice bran), given at a level of 150 g/kg diet for 6 weeks, on lipid metabolism was examined in the faeces, serum and liver of male rats. Liver weight decreased 35% in the rats fed on a high-fat, high-cholesterol diet containing the probiot...

The aim of this study was to perform the microbiological analysis of quality of 25 probiotic products, available on the Polish market. Analysis of bacterial viability in probiotic products showed that not all of these preparations possess a suitable number of bacteria. Moreover, some of the tested probiotic products contained bacterial strains other than those declared by the manufacturer. All ...

Probiotic bacteria are used in production of functional foods and pharmaceutical products. They play an important role in promoting and maintaining human health. In order, to produce health benefits probiotic strains should be present in a viable form at a suitable level during the product is shelf life until consumption and maintain high viability throughout the gastrointestinal tract. Many re...

AIM : Although numerous animal studies suggest that probiotic therapy has beneficial effects in various liver diseases, the evidence for beneficial effects in human liver disease is controversial. This study was carried out to investigate the efficacy of probiotic therapy in alleviating small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) and permeability in chronic liver disease. METHODS Fifty-three...

Probiotics are gaining more and more interest as alternatives for antibiotics or anti-inflammatory drugs. However, their mode of action is poorly understood. This review will present examples of probiotic actions from three general modes of actions into which probiotic effects can be classified. Probiotics might modulate the host's immune system, affect other microorganisms directly or act on m...

Lactic acid bacteria found as sub-dominant component of the human and animal microbial gut represents one of the most significant groups of probiotic organisms. During the last decade probiotics become an important and viable ingredient in the functional foods as well as the pharmaceutical industry. In this paper, we shall review the most important findings with regards to the in vitro screenin...

Ice cream is a kind of dairy products consumed all over the world and most popular among children and adults. However, ice cream available commercially is generally poor in natural antioxidants and vitamins. Thus, it is of interest to improve the nutritional values of ice cream using spiny bitter cucumber (Gac) which is a good source of lycopene and β-carotene along with probiotic bacteria. Fir...

The effects of a probiotic acidified milk product on the blood serum metabolite profile of patients suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) compared to a non-probiotic acidified milk product was investigated using (1)H NMR metabonomics. For eight weeks, IBS patients consumed 0.4 L per day of a probiotic fermented milk product or non-probiotic acidified milk. Both diets resulted in elevate...

This study investigated the survival of free and microencapsulated probiotic bacteria in orange and apple juices. Eight different strains of probiotic bacteria were used in this study including Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Bifidobacterium longum, L. salivarius, L. plantarum, L. acidophilus, L. paracasei, B. lactis type Bi-04 and B. lactis type Bi-07. The free or microencapsulated probiotic bacteria...