1 INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 Probiotics - an overview 1
1.2 Probiotics in an historical perspective 2
2 DEFINITIONS IN PROBIOTICS 6
2.1 Prebiotics and symbiotics 6
2.2 Colonic foods: 6
3 MICROBIOLOGY TREATED 6
4 HOW TO DESIGN A STUDIE 6
5 IMMUNOLOGY TREATED 6
5.1 MALT/GALT 6
5.2 Humoral immune response. 7
6 FUNCTION OF PROBIOTICS (MECHANISMS OF ACTION) 7
6.1 Pathogen antagonism 7
6.1.1 Inhibitory substances (antibacterial) 7
6.1.2 Blocking of adhesion sites 7
6.1.3 Competition for nutrients 8
6.2 Production of dietary compounds 8
6.3 Stimulation of immunity 8
6.4 Regulation of enzyme systems 8
6.4.1 Food digestion 8
6.5 Food-allergy reduction 9
6.6 Degradation of toxin receptor 9
6.7 Anticarcinogenic activity 9
6.8 Are there any risks? Intestinal permeability and translocation 9
7 DISORDERS TREATED WITH PROBIOTICS 11
7.1 Intestinal diarrhoeal disorders 11
7.1.1 Antibiotic-induced diarrhoeal disease 11
7.1.2 Clostridium difficile-associated intestinal disease 11
7.2 Infectious diarrhea 11
7.2.1 Rotavirus diarrhea 11
7.2.2 Travellerīs diarrhea 11
7.3 Gastroenteritis (H Pylori) 11
7.4 Hepatic encephalopaty 11
7.5 HIV/AIDS diarrhea 12
7.6 In intensive care 12
7.7 Sucrase-isomaltase deficiency 12
7.8 Lactose intolerance 12
7.9 Inflammatory bowel disease 13
7.10 Pouchitis 13
7.11 Irritable bowel syndrome 13
7.12 Small bowel bacterial overgrowth 13
7.13 Enteral feeding-associated diarrhea 13
7.14 Carcinogenesis 14
8 MARKET AND PUBLIC OPINION 14
8.1 Future investigation 14
8.2 Products on the market 15
9 SUMMARY 17