Yay for Yoghurt

Health Benefits Of Probiotic Could Extend To The Entire Body According To New Study

Probiotics: Data from a recent study demonstrate the anti-inflammatory and pathogen protection benefits of Bifidobacterium infantis 35624 -- a probiotic bacterial strain of human origin. Gastrointestinal benefits of probiotics have been well-documented, but more and more research is revealing that probiotic benefits extend to the entire body. The report was published in the August issue of the Public Library of Science (PLoS) Pathogens.

The inflammatory response is a key part of the immune system's battle against invaders. The normal response to infection is rapid and effective, however, the immune response may occasionally cause inflammation and damage to healthy tissue.

"Inflammation is a major factor in a number of chronic diseases affecting millions of people and can cause an unwanted impact on healthy tissue," said Dr. Liam O'Mahony, lead investigator. "Past research has shown that the probiotic Bifidobacterium infantis 35624 can positively impact the body's immune defense3, and this most recent data suggests that its benefits are not restricted to the gastrointestinal tract."

Inflammation is associated with a wide range of conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease, arthritis, bacterial-induced colitis, type I diabetes and organ transplantation. Bifidobacterium infantis 35624 has previously shown ability to modulate the inflammatory response in a clinical trial of patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

Prebiotics too. As probiotics have grown popular, prebiotics have emerged as another category of so-called functional food. Recent studies support the idea that certain compounds—the nondigestible carbohydrates inulin (also known as oligofructose), galactooligosaccharide, and lactulose—can stimulate the growth of friendly bugs in the gut. Prebiotics might have health benefits similar to probiotics, and they're easier to incorporate into one's diet: Consumers can get prebiotics without even buying special products, because many fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and other high-fiber foods naturally contain the stuff.