Prebiotics and Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Probiotics and prebiotics in female health.

J Br Menopause Soc. 2003 Jun;9(2):69-74. Smejkal C, Kolida S, Bingham M, Gibson G, McCartney A. Microbiology Research Fellow, Food Microbial Sciences Unit, School of Food Biosciences, The University of Reading, Reading, UK.

• Functional foods such as probiotics, prebiotics and nutraceuticals are of extreme interest to researchers.
• There is growing evidence that these food ingredients may improve and in some cases treat certain conditions that are implicated in women’s health.
• The use of probiotics (live, beneficial bacteria) in improving gastrointestinal and non-gastrointestinal tract conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, candidiasis and other female urogenital tract conditions are reviewed.
• Emphasis is also given to the importance of prebiotics (non-digestible food ingredients) in osteoporosis management and alleviation of menopausal symptoms and reducing the onset of cancer.

Review article: probiotics and prebiotics in irritable bowel syndrome.

Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2008 Aug 15;28(4):385-96. Epub 2008 Jun 4. LinkOut Spiller R. Wolfson Digestive Diseases Centre, University Hospital, University of Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, UK. robin.spiller@nottingham.ac.uk

• Probiotics can enhance gut barrier function, inhibit pathogen binding and modulate gut inflammatory response.
• They can also reduce visceral hypersensitivity associated with both inflammation and psychological stress. Probiotics can alter colonic fermentation and stabilize the colonic microbiota.
• Several large randomized, placebo-controlled trials of adequate design have shown an improvement in flatulence and abdominal distension with a reduction in composite IBS symptoms scores.
• CONCLUSIONS: Each probiotic has unique features and IBS patients are heterogeneous. Future efforts should be directed to identifying biomarkers of responsiveness to facilitate better targeting of treatment and hence improved efficacy.

Health benefits of probiotics and prebiotics in women.

Menopause Int. 2009 Mar;15(1):35-40. de Vrese M. Institut für Physiologie und Biochemie der Ernährung, Max Rubner Institut, Hermann-Weigman-Strasse 1, Kiel, Germany.Michael.devrese@mri.bund.de

• Among the numerous positive effects of probiotic microorganisms and prebiotic carbohydrates observed in clinical studies some are of specific relevance to female health.
• The present review addresses the first line with preventive and/or therapeutic applications of probiotic bacteria in order to maintain a balanced intestinal and urogenital flora, as well as in the case of irritable bowel syndrome, constipation (idiopathic slow-transit) and urogenital tract infections.
• Further aspects are the promotion of bone health and osteoporosis prevention brought about by inulin, oligofructose and galactooligosaccharides.