The term probiotic (probiotic) means “for life” and the World Health Organization uses this term to refer to “living organisms” which, when consumed regularly, have significant “health-promoting” effects on their host.
According to the reporter of Doctors Without Borders website, probiotic is also used as an adjective for foods containing these bacteria. Probiotics are consumed in two forms:
As dietary supplements in the form of powder, syrup or tablets
As foods enriched with probiotics. (For example, if probiotic bacteria are used in the production of any fermented dairy product such as yogurt and probiotic cakes, the resulting product is called probiotic.)
The Role of Probiotics
The human intestine contains many types of bacteria (beneficial, harmful and neutral). There must be a balance among intestinal bacteria in the human body; otherwise, in addition to disrupting the functions of the intestinal flora, it may cause acne, food allergies, excessive fatigue, depression, headaches and … . It should be noted, however, that in healthy individuals, beneficial bacteria are dominant.
Beneficial bacteria play an important role in producing compounds required by the body, such as vitamins and organic acids. In contrast, harmful bacteria produce toxic and carcinogenic compounds. Therefore, if harmful bacteria become dominant in the intestine, not only are essential and nutritious compounds not produced, but the amount of harmful compounds also increases.
Gut flora includes microorganisms that naturally live in the digestive tract in peaceful symbiosis and play a role in the health of humans and other hosts.
All animals have intestinal flora in their digestive system. Animals that are raised completely under bacteria-free conditions are more vulnerable than normal animals whose intestinal flora has developed. The composition of the intestinal flora of each animal is specific to that animal.
The entire human body consists, on average, of 10^14 cells (10 to the power of 14, equivalent to 100 trillion). The number of microorganisms present in the intestine is 10 times the total number of cells in an individual’s body.
Bacteria constitute the major part of the intestinal flora, so that 35 to 50 percent of the colon (large intestine) consists of bacteria. Bacteria constitute 60 percent of fecal mass. Approximately 300 to 1000 different species of microorganisms live in the intestines.
Yeasts also constitute a small part of this flora. There are 400 to 800 species of bacteria living in the intestines. Most bacteria in the small intestine are “Gram-positive,” while bacteria in the large intestine are “Gram-negative.” The large intestine is considered one of the most metabolically active organs of the body.
The initial sections of the colon are responsible for fermenting carbohydrates, while the final sections are responsible for breaking down proteins and amino acids. 99 percent of intestinal bacteria are anaerobic, while aerobic bacteria have the highest concentration in the cecum.
Beneficial intestinal bacteria mainly belong to the genera Bacteroides, Clostridium, Fusobacterium, Eubacterium, Ruminococcus, Peptococcus, Peptostreptococcus, Bifidobacterium, Escherichia and Lactobacillus.
Bacteroides alone constitute 30 percent of all intestinal bacteria.
The only yeasts found in the intestines include Candida and Saccharomyces.
The large intestine also contains harmful bacteria, but beneficial bacteria should constitute at least 85 percent of all intestinal microorganisms to ensure the health of the host.
The intestinal microbial flora is highly dependent on the foods consumed by an individual. Therefore, the intestinal microbial flora can be changed and beneficial microorganisms can replace harmful ones.
Probiotics help stimulate the growth of beneficial intestinal bacteria or reduce the pathogenicity of harmful microorganisms, and their effects continue as long as probiotics are consumed.
In addition to helping digest complex molecules, they produce compounds such as vitamins and various antibiotics that are beneficial to the body. Sources of probiotic bacteria include dairy products and fruits.
Benefits of Consuming Probiotics
1- Reduction of lactose intolerance, as (LAB) converts lactose into lactic acid.
2- Prevention of colon, small intestine, liver and breast cancer.
3- Reduction of blood cholesterol and its absorption from the intestine (through the breakdown of bile in the intestine).
4- Reduction of blood pressure.
5- Improvement and strengthening of the immune system and prevention of infections.
6- Treatment and prevention of acute diarrhea.
7- Reduction of intestinal inflammation.
8- Reduction of food allergies or eczema in children.
9- Improvement of mineral and vitamin absorption.
10- Improvement of symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome and colitis (inflammation of the lining of the large intestine).
11- Prevention of the growth and multiplication of harmful bacteria.
12- Treatment and prevention of vaginal yeast infections, antibiotic-associated diarrhea, mouth ulcers, tooth decay, vaginitis, athlete’s foot, fungal infections and thrush (oral candidiasis).
13- Improvement of digestion and nutrient absorption.
14- Helping produce B-group vitamins and vitamin K.
Use of Probiotics in Livestock and Poultry
For many years, it has been known that the absence of bacteria in the intestine can harm health; for example, laboratory animals raised under bacteria-free and sterile conditions often have underdeveloped immune systems and vulnerable intestines.
Considering the widespread use of various additives in animal feed and the significant increase in the production of livestock and poultry products worldwide, it is easy to estimate the amount and volume of medicines and chemicals that, through this process, threaten the environment as pollutants and endanger the health of consumers of such products.
At the same time, due to the valuable role of these compounds in increasing productivity in livestock and poultry production, repeated use of them has become unavoidable in most cases.
Therefore, having various additives that, while maintaining desirable properties, are free from adverse health and environmental consequences has attracted the attention of researchers worldwide for many years.
Probiotics can be considered one of the positive achievements of researchers. These substances are microbial dietary supplements that, by improving the microbial balance of the intestine, have beneficial effects in increasing the host’s defense capacity against pathogenic agents. Other researchers have also shown that feeding poultry with probiotics improves egg production (based on hen-day production), daily feed consumption, and the weight and size of eggs.
Function of Probiotics
- They prevent certain infectious diseases, such as vaginal infections that may cause premature miscarriage.
- By occupying and covering the attachment sites of pathogenic microorganisms, they prevent their growth.
- They consume nutrients available in the body before they can be used by pathogenic microorganisms.
- Probiotics can stimulate both specific and non-specific immunity against intestinal diseases.
- They stimulate the body’s immune and defense systems against pathogenic bacteria.
- They reduce and prevent the absorption of allergenic dairy substances through the intestine and may even reduce eczema in infants.
- They help absorb vitamins and minerals present in food.
- They prevent cancer of the intestine, liver and breast.
- They reduce cholesterol and blood pressure and …..
What Points Are Important When Consuming Probiotics?
Dietary supplements in tablet form, which are currently mostly imported in Iran, must have a protective coating so that the beneficial bacteria are not destroyed by stomach acid while passing through the stomach.
Bananas, honey, asparagus, artichokes, garlic and onions contain substances that help probiotic bacteria grow better. However, large amounts of these foods must be consumed to achieve an effective result.
People who take antibiotics, suffer from diarrhea, vaginal yeast infections or malnutrition are among those who have priority for probiotic consumption.
Important Points Regarding Probiotics:
1- Their effectiveness continues as long as probiotics are consumed.
2- Probiotic dietary supplements in tablet form must have a protective coating so that beneficial bacteria are not destroyed by stomach acid while passing through the stomach.
3- Dairy products are considered the best carriers for probiotics.
4- Bananas, honey, asparagus, artichokes, garlic and onions are natural probiotic sources. However, large amounts of them must be consumed to achieve an effective result.
5- Probiotic dietary supplements should contain sufficient amounts of beneficial bacteria.
6- People who take antibiotics, suffer from diarrhea, vaginal yeast infections or malnutrition are among those who have priority for probiotic consumption.
7- The use of probiotic supplements is permitted for everyone except pregnant and breastfeeding women.
Probiotic Cake
Today, by choosing Dorna probiotic cake, customers can not only enjoy the pleasure of eating a different kind of cake, but can also meet their need for this important and beneficial factor in this way.
Today in Iran, thanks to the grace of God and the efforts of Dorna specialists, a different strain of this microorganism has been developed that is resistant to baking temperatures and preserves its biological properties throughout the baking process.
Dorna – Thinking About Your Health
