The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is home to more than 3 pounds of microorganisms, among which are beneficial species, including Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus. These organisms contribute to the nutritional status of the host, regulation of intestinal angiogenesis, and the development of immunity in infants and children, as well as protection from pathogens. The balanced organization of this e...

Low serum concentrations of micronutrients, intestinal abnormalities, and an inflammatory state have been associated with HIV progression. These may be ameliorated by micronutrients, N-acetyl cysteine, probiotics, and prebiotics. This review aims to integrate the evidence from clinical trials of these interventions on the progression of HIV. Vitamin B, C, E, and folic acid have been shown to de...

What They Are: Probiotic products contain helpful, viable bacteria and/or yeasts that assist in balancing the levels of indigenous microorganisms in the human body. Probiotics are available in varied forms such as yogurt and other cultured milk foods, capsules, tablets, beverages, and powders. Probiotics should not be confused with prebiotics, which are complex sugars (such as inulin and other ...

A prebiotic substance has been defined as a non-digestible food ingredient that beneficially affects the host by selectively stimulating the growth and/or activity of one or a limited number of bacteria in the colon. Therefore, compared to probiotics, which introduce exogenous bacteria into the colonic microflora, a prebiotic aims at stimulating the growth of one or a limited number of the pote...

The development of the intestinal flora in newborn infants starts during birth when the aseptic gastrointestinal tract of the fetus is inoculated by bacteria from the mother’s intestinal and vaginal flora. This leads to a diverse flora comprising Bifidobacteria, Clostridia, and gram positive Cocci (Heine et al., 1998). After this first inoculation, the flora changes rapidly, presumably under th...

This clinical report reviews the currently known health benefits of probiotic and prebiotic products, including those added to commercially available infant formula and other food products for use in children. Probiotics are supplements or foods that contain viable microorganisms that cause alterations of the microflora of the host. Use of probiotics has been shown to be modestly effective in r...