History of Probiotics and Prebiotics

Probiotics

The term was suggested in 1953 and revised in 1989 by Roy Fuller. Roy fullers definition “A live microbial feed supplement which beneficially affects the host animal by improving its intestinal microbial balance“. Which remains true till this day.

Initially suggest at the turn of the 20th century by Elie Metchnikoff (Nobel laureate) that it was possible to replace bacteria in the human gut with useful bacteria. It was theorized that harmful bacteria toxin producing bacteria (clostridia) increased with the age of an individual, putting unnecessary stress on the body.

Prebiotics

First defined by Marcel Roberfoid in 1995. Prebiotics can be though as substances which stimulate the growth and/or activity of beneficial bacteria.

The link – Bacteria and Health

Clinical studies carried out to evaluating probiotics has uncovered new health implications from the traditional digestive health benefits to including immune support, anti-inflammation, oral and skin care (1).

In-fact a recent study done by Dr Florent Angly at the Univeristy of Queensland published in Nature have suggested a relationship between gut flora obesity. The proposed mechanism behind obesity induced by un-favourable flora of bacteria is based on over eating, as an individuals over eats the amounts of nutrients present in the gut increase. Due to the increase of nutrients certain types of bacteria are encourage to enumerate, during this process of enumeration bacteria metabolize these nutrients into simpler compounds; at times harmful bacteria will produce toxic byproducts during this metabolic step.

These simpler compounds are then reabsorbed by the gut into the body, due to the body already saturated with required nutrients. These now excess nutrients are converted into fat deposits.

As for toxic byproducts such as acetaldehyde it is broken down by Aldehyde Dehydrogenase increase stress on ones body.

Possible Solution – Digestive Drink Synbio3:

References

1.            Moloughney S. Prebiotics & Probiotics: Partners in Health. Nutraceuticals World. 2011 April 2011:3.