1. Pennington Nutrition Series
Healthier lives through education in nutrition and preventive medicine Pub No 51
PROBIOTICS
PENNINGTON BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH CENTER
WHAT ARE PROBIOTICS?
SPECIAL
POINTS OF
INTEREST:
Probiotics are living micro-organisms or bacteria that we consume
What are Probiotics?
in foods or beverages. Probiotic bacteria are friendly bacteria that
Types of Probiotic
bacteria live in our bodies and offer many benefits. There are many different
Intestinal microflora varieties of friendly bacteria that exist naturally in foods or drinks, or
Functions of can be added to foods or beverages to enhance health and well
probiotics
being. When friendly bacteria are added into foods or beverages
Improved immunity
through probiotics they are known as functional foods.
Probiotics and
Probiotic bacteria are also available in
intestinal health
supplement form. Most supplements
Other health
conditions contain mixtures of several bacteria.
Sources of probiotics Supplements and foods high in probiotic
bacteria may be useful after antibiotic
therapy to re-colonize the intestinal
track with healthy bacteria.
Yogurt has friendly
probiotic bacteria.
TYPES OF PROBIOTIC BACTERIA
Some of the most common types of probiotic bacteria are the
Lactic acid bacteria. These bacteria are found in yogurt.
Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus bulgaricus and
Streptococcus thermophilus are some common bacteria in
different varieties of yogurt. Other bacteria that are used as
probiotics are non-lactic acid bacteria and non-pathogenic yeast.

2. PROBIOTICS Page 2
INTESTINAL MICROFLORA
The intestines are a We have many where the conditions
unique and vital organ. organisms that live are very acidic, there
The intestines are within our intestinal are living bacteria. Nor-
metabolically very track to assure a mal microflora can be
active. During and after normal health. The enhanced by ingesting
a meal, digestion and weight of all the bacte- products that have
absorption break down ria within our friendly bacteria, or
the food with a myriad intestines is about 1.5 substances that sup-
of reactions happening kg, or a little over 3 port bacterial growth.
simultaneously to take pounds, with a total Under normal condi-
care of our energy and over 100 trillion. Each tions, the bacteria
nutrient needs, as well section of the intestinal thrive, but they can be
as letting our brains track has specific bac- killed by antibiotic
know that we have teria that live in it. Even therapy.
eaten. within the stomach,
FUNCTIONS OF PROBIOTICS
Probiotic bacteria Probiotics have been treatment for various treatment for
offer protection rheumatoid arthritis.
used for various intestinal conditions
against harmful
conditions. They have such as lactose Other conditions that
bacteria and
been found to modulate intolerance, Crohn's have improved due to
enhance our
immunity, particularly in disease, ulcerative probiotic treatment are
immune system.
infants. The presence of colitis, Irritable Bowel atopic dermatitis,
the friendly bacteria in Syndrome (IBS), candidiasis and urinary
the intestinal track diarrhea, and tract infections.
activates the immune constipation. Probiotics are also
system and boosts Probiotics have been thought to be helpful in
important immune successful in lowering preventing cancer, par-
components. They are cholesterol. They have ticularly intestinal
important as a also been used as a cancers.
IMPROVED IMMUNITY THROUGH PROBIOTICS
About 80 percent of our tion against invasive either build tolerance
immune system func- species. The GALT has against antigens or
tion is within the cells such as T and B alter cell chemistry and
intestinal track. Within lymphocytes that its response to an
the intestinal track we actively defend us allergen. The friendly
have what is called gut against pathogens. The bacteria help reduce
Lymphocytes are important associated lymphoid beneficial bacteria inflammation and
cells for helping our tissue or GALT. GALT is activate these stabilize the intestinal
immune system cope with very important when it lymphocytes and cause track.
infection. comes to body a release of several
immunity and protec- cellular chemicals that

3. Page 3 PUB NO 51
PROBIOTICS AND INTESTINAL HEALTH
Probiotics have been probiotic bacteria as with probiotic treatment
used to treat several part of the treatment are Crohn's disease,
intestinal conditions. It can reduce the severity ulcerative colitis, IBS
is thought that when and length of the bouts and constipation. The
the intestinal track is and can help the infant probiotic bacteria
colonized with healthy recover faster. The normalize the walls of
and friendly bacteria, same is true for the intestinal tract and
the gut is healthier and traveler’s diarrhea. help in the healing
therefore it functions Studies show that there process. Probiotics are Probiotic bacteria
better. Pediatric is a reduction in days also responsible for
diarrhea is a very affected by traveler’s synthesizing nutrients in
common occurrence diarrhea when probiotic the intestinal tract such
and can have serious treatment is as folic acid, niacin,
effects such as administered. Other riboflavin, vitamins B6
dehydration. Using conditions improved and B12.
OTHER HEALTH CONDITIONS
The probiotic bacteria Probiotic bacteria help is multifaceted and very Probiotic bacteria
have many functions in enhancing the difficult to treat and have varied
and they are very me- immune system and for there is no one solution. functions and help
tabolically active. In that reason is thought One of the facets of the against many
young infants they offer to offer help in disorder is intestinal conditions.
help with intestinal tract conditions such as malfunction which can
maturation. They also rheumatoid arthritis be augmented by
contribute to enhanced and atopic dermatitis. treatment with probiotic
immunity in the young Probiotics have also bacteria.
infant. Probiotics can been found to benefit
also help with skin children that have
disorders such as autism spectrum
atopic eczema. disorders. The disorder
SOURCES OF PROBIOTICS
The most common makes the product bacteria. Other foods
sources of friendly sour. Some cultured that that are either
bacteria are yogurt, cheeses use bacteria to produced by bacterial
cultured buttermilk, and finish the maturation of fermentation, or
cheeses. Make sure the cheese. Another process are Japanese
that the yogurt fermented dairy product Miso, Tempeh,
packaging states ‘live is kefir. Traditionally sauerkraut, beer,
bacteria.’ Cultured yogurt has only one or sourdough bread, Many aged cheeses
are fermented
buttermilk is made with two bacteria whereas chocolate, kimchi,
products and contain
bacteria that produces kefir tends to have olives, and pickles. friendly bacteria .
lactic acid, which several friendly

4. The Pennington Nutrition Series Fact sheets have the
latest nutrition information on various health topics
from dietary guidelines to functional foods.
The Pennington Biomedical Research Center is a
world renowned nutrition research center.
PENNINGTON BIOMEDICAL
RESEARCH CENTER
The Pennington Biomedical Research Center is a world-
6400 Perkins Road renowned nutrition research center.
Baton Rouge, LA 70808
Mission:
Phone: 225-763-2500 To promote healthier lives through research and education in
www.pbrc.edu nutrition and preventive medicine.
The Pennington Center has several research areas, including:
Clinical Obesity Research
Visit our Web Site Experimental Obesity
www.pbrc.edu Functional Foods
Health and Performance Enhancement
Nutrition and Chronic Diseases
Nutrition and the Brain
References Dementia, Alzheimer’s and healthy aging
Symposium: Clinical Applications of Diet, exercise, weight loss and weight loss maintenance
Probiotics in Human Health. September 14-
15, 2007, Las Vegas, Nevada. The research fostered in these areas can have a profound im-
pact on healthy living and on the prevention of common
chronic diseases, such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, hy-
Pennington Nutrition Series No 51, 2009 pertension and osteoporosis.
Authors
The Division of Education provides education and informa-
tion to the scientific community and the public about research
Heli J. Roy, PhD, RD findings, training programs and research areas, and coordi-
Beth Kalicki nates educational events for the public on various health is-
sues.
Division of Education We invite people of all ages and backgrounds to participate in
the exciting research studies being conducted at the Penning-
Phillip Brantley, PhD, Director
ton Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. If you would like to
Pennington Biomedical Research Center take part, visit the clinical trials web page at www.pbrc.edu or
Claude Bouchard, PhD, Executive Director call (225) 763-3000.
Edited : October 2009