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Probiotics: Studies
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Probiotics are live, nonpathogenic microorganisms that may interact with gastrointestinal and vaginal microflora. Clinical studies indicate that certain probiotics may be useful in treating some diarrheal disorders, respiratory allergies, and eczema, as well as in controlling inflammation and reducing the risk of candidal vaginitis and colon cancer.
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Probiotics can be useful in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. In a previous report, the non-pathogenic yeast Saccharomyces boulardii was found to be beneficial in the maintenance treatment of Crohn's disease. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of S. boulardii in ulcerative colitis patients. A group of 25 patients with a mild to moderate clinical flare-up of ulcerative colitis received additional treatment with S. boulardii 250 mg three times a day for 4 weeks during maintenance treatment with mesalazine. These patients were unsuitable for steroid therapy. Before and after treatment, Rachmilewitz's clinical activity index was calculated.
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*Probiotics may ease stress-related gut problems* Gastrointestinal problems associated with stress may find relief from probiotic supplements, reports a new study from Lallemand. Using a proprietary blend of probiotics, researchers report that abdominal pain and nausea/vomiting were reduced by the supplements, according to results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised study published in the journal Nutrition Research. *Nutra Ingredients USA:* http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/news/ng.asp?n=82634&m=1NIU118&c=atdxkjifypkcgxu **
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Probiotics are increasingly being studied and used in humans. A range of probiotic strains has been evaluated for their antidiarrhoeal capabilities, with varying degrees of success. Bifidobacterium bifidum, given in conjunction with Streptococcus thermophilus in standard milk formula for preventive purposes, has been shown to reduce the incidence of rotavirus diarrhoea (Saavedra JM 1994). A meta-analysis indicates clearly that Lactobacillus is safe and effective in reducing the duration of acute infantile diarrhoea (Van Niel C 2002) and a systematic review suggests probiotics are clinically beneficial in the treatment of acute infectious diarrhea in infants and children, particularly in viral gastroenteritis (Szajewska H 2001). Lactobacillus GG has shown the most consistent effect, although other probiotic strains ... appear to be effective.
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Use of probiotics during pregnancy and after childbirth may reduce risk of childhood eczema. In a very large, long-term, double-blind study, 1,223 pregnant women were given either placebo or a probiotic mixture (containing lactobacilli and bifidobacteria) beginning 2-4 weeks before delivery. 125 Their newborn children then received either probiotics or placebo for six months. The results showed that the probiotics mixture markedly reduced incidence of eczema (though not of other allergic diseases). Benefits were ... seen in a similar, smaller study. 29 Another such study, however, yielded marginal results.
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Cranberries may ... act as natural "probiotics" by enabling the good bacteria in the GI tract to thrive, while killing off the bad bacteria that promote infections and foodborne illnesses. A study by Leslie Plhak, Ph.D., at the University of Wisconsin-Madison found that whole frozen cranberries contained compounds that inhibited the growth of common foodborne pathogens, including Listeria monocytogenes and E. coli 0157:H7, but enhanced the growth of a beneficial bacterium Lactobacillus fermentum by as much as 25 times. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 76 million Americans contract foodborne illnesses annually, causing major intestinal distress, and, in rare cases, serious life-threatening conditions. "Components in cranberries are specifically inhibiting the growth of certain food-borne pathogens and may enable, or even promote, the survival of "good" bacteria, notes Plhak.
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