Med. praxi. 2010;7(1):14-18
Prebiotics and probiotics in clinical practice
- Univerzita Karlova v Praze, Interní klinika 1. LF a ÚVN Střešovice
The small intestine is of essential significance for assimilation, plays a role as the main mechanical and immunological barrier separating
the external and internal environment, and of equal significance is its endocrine, exocrine and paracrine humoral activity. Developmentally,
it arises from the ectoderm, the same germ layer as the brain; that is why substances identical in their composition and
function are produced in both organs, which often have an important regulatory effect, virtually from birth. The large intestine is not
only an organ of water and electrolyte absorption and the site of evacuation of indigestible food consumed but its functions are wider.
From birth and throughout life, there occurs fermentation of food fibre due to microbial colonization in the large intestine. Mucosal
microbial flora, intestinal epithelium, and mucosal immune system make up the gastrointestinal ecosystem that is formed from birth
and modified throughout life. Probiotics are defined microbial commensal strains which, when administered, beneficially affect the
host. Prebiotics are most commonly oligosaccharides, are less or more fermentable by commensal bacteria in the colon and have local
and, following fermentation, also mediated functions not only in the intestine. Owing to the new knowledge in molecular biology
and technologies, the use of probiotics and prebiotics has been expanding and their use in completely new indications is being studied
in which they would carry out the function of carriers of various vaccines, enzymes, anti-inflammatory drugs, and immune response
modulators and might become a part of complex therapies of inflammatory, autoimmune, and oncological diseases.
Keywords: probiotics, prebiotics, gastrointestinal ecosystem
Published: April 22, 2010 Show citation
