BioticFoods

The word probiotic comes from the Greek “pro bios” and means “for life”. According to the definition presented by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), probiotics are “live microorganisms when supplemented in the right amount can cause beneficial health effects.”

Probiotic microorganisms include primarily Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, but also many other. However, only selected, strictly defined strains from a given species are characterized by healthy properties confirmed by clinical studies.

Probiotics used in nutrition are intended to help maintain the microbial balance of the digestive tract, both quantitatively and qualitatively. The main roles that probiotic bacteria play include:

• colonization of the intestine and, consequently, displacement of pathogenic microorganisms,
• improved immunity,
• prevention of intestinal infections.

Not all lactic acid bacteria used in the production are probiotics, because not all strains cause the same effect in the human body. Probiotic properties of bacteria are characteristics of a particular strain (biotype) of a species. Preferred properties are inherently dependent, ie, appropriate for one selected strain of bacteria.