Probiotics Archives - Gut Microbiota for Health

The role of probiotics on respiratory and gastrointestinal tract infections in healthy people: what science says today?

29 Mar 2021

by Andreu Prados

The role of gut microbiota in shaping immune responses has led scientists to explore the modulation of the immune system as a mechanism underlying the health benefits of probiotics. A new systematic review and meta-analysis of 9 randomized clinical trials suggest probiotics may reduce the incidence of respiratory and gastrointestinal tract infections in generally healthy children and adults.

Is it time to consider next-generation beneficial microbes for tackling obesity?

15 Feb 2021

by Andreu Prados

Is it time to consider next-generation beneficial microbes for tackling obesity? APC Microbiome Ireland researchers identify Bifidobacterium longum APC1472 as a promising candidate

Should dietary guidelines advise consumers to deliberately include safe microorganisms in their diets?

18 Jan 2021

by Andreu Prados

While for almost all of human evolution our food and water have contained large numbers of microorganisms, the industrialized human diet contains low microbial numbers. So are we ready to recommend a specific daily intake of microbes?

What major scientific breakthroughs have been made in gut microbiome science in 2020?

28 Dec 2020

by Andreu Prados

Although the COVID-19 pandemic has shifted the focus of research for scientists worldwide, major breakthroughs in gut microbiome science have been made in 2020. In this last post of the year, we bring you articles from our blog that cover the major advances in the gut microbiome in 2020, from bench to bedside.

The baseline gut microbiota is not always a good predictor of clinical response to a low FODMAP diet or probiotics

30 Nov 2020

by GMFH Editing Team

Diet is becoming increasingly popular as a means of managing IBS symptoms. A new study in 95 adults with IBS examines diet-gut microbiota associations and concludes that baseline gut microbiota is not a good predictor of clinical response to a low FODMAP diet or probiotic intervention.

It still too early to use probiotics, prebiotics and fermented foods for cognitive performance, concludes a new meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

23 Nov 2020

by GMFH Editing Team

Gut microbiome-targeted interventions are being explored as means of improving cognitive performance. A new meta-analysis of 22 randomized controlled studies has found no significant effect on improving cognition for probiotics, prebiotics and fermented foods, whether alone or used in combination.

Probiotic strains of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus can shape the fecal microbiota and metabolites of preterm infants

21 Sep 2020

by GMFH Editing Team

An abnormal pattern of microbial colonization has been reported in infants born prior to 37 weeks of gestation. New research supports the role of probiotic supplementation in shaping the gut microbiota of preterm infants towards that of their full-term counterparts.

Health benefits linked to yogurt consumption could be explained as a result of improvements in gut barrier function

24 Aug 2020

by GMFH Editing Team

The mechanisms underlying associations between yogurt consumption and a reduced risk of negative health outcomes have not been widely studied. A cross-sectional study now suggests that maintaining normal gut barrier function is a new mechanism that supports the benefits of consuming yogurt.

Lactic acid bacteria in fermented foods can be transferred to the human gut

8 Jun 2020

by GMFH Editing Team

Fermented foods are a known source of lactic acid bacteria. A high-throughput sequencing analysis of food and human metagenomes proves that fermented foods are a source of lactic acid bacteria for the gut microbiome, and that abundance is shaped by both age and lifestyle.

Beyond digestive function: meal characteristics and individual responsiveness are major triggers of sensations related to food ingestion

25 May 2020

by GMFH Editing Team

Foods are processed in the upper digestive tract and pass into the colon when entering the digestive system. A new paper outlines the impact of food consumption in shaping bidirectional communication between digestive responses and the digestive sensations occurring before, during and after a meal.