What Is The Mechanism Of Action Of Probiotics?

Intestinal microflora plays a fundamental role in maintaining a healthy immune system.  In many controlled clinical trials, probiotic bacterium has demonstrated time and again, a benefit in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases such as infectious diarrhea.  Through these discoveries, the evidence has led to proof that probiotics can be used as a therapeutic strategy to treat human diseases.

The precise mechanisms which influence the link between the microbe and the host remain unclear, but there is growing evidence which suggests that the function of the immune system can be regulated by bacteria in the human gut.  Recently, compelling evidence has shown that manipulating microflora can directly influence the host.  

How might probiotics be good for diabetes?

The human intestines harbor an incredible number of microorganisms which are called colonic flora or gut microbiota. Colonic flora has an impact on how the human body receives nutrients and regulates energy; those with obesity have differences in their gut microbiota than thin people. While there is no substitute for a healthy diet and exercise as a means of treating obesity, there is a possibility of using probiotics to help obese people with excessive body weight.

Gut microbiota has a role in the development of obesity and by extension it also has an effect on diabetes.  A report published in the 2009 edition of Current Pharmaceutical Design, showed that feedback obtained in experimental models and human subjects are in favor of the fact that changing the gut microbiota with prebiotics or probiotics can impact or control the development of metabolic diseases such as diabetes, in people with obesity.

Probiotics have long been credited with helping people alleviate a variety of health problems.  Currently, research suggests probiotics could also have a direct benefit in helping people with diabetes control weight gain, which in turn could lead to other health improvements.

What kinds of supplements or foods contain probiotics?

A person can find probiotics in a variety of different forms.  Probiotics are available in powdered or supplement forms, and in foods such as yogurt, cheese, dairy products, infant formula and snack bars.  Any kind of probiotic can be beneficial for the digestive tract and someone can take whatever form they would like.

See Also: Prebiotics and Probiotics: What's the buzz?

Prognosis

Obesity is a condition which increases someone’s risk for diseases and health problems including; heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, gout, depression, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, gall stones and much more.  The good news is that many of these health conditions are preventable through weight loss.  Reversing obesity and its health risks means making many changes.  While it may seem extremely difficult, increasing a person’s activity level, modifying eating habits, using probiotics and limiting calorie intake will all lead to weight loss, health improvements and an overall better quality of life.