Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common functional gastrointestinal disorders, affecting more than 10% of the population, with the highest impact in women. Although its origin is still unknown, reduced gut microbial diversity could be involved in its development.
Probiotics may protect from estrogen deficiency-related bone loss in mice
13 Jul 2016by Andreu Prados
A recent study, led by Dr. Roberto Pacifici from Emory University in Atlanta (USA), suggests that probiotics may have potential as a therapeutic strategy for preventing steroid deficiency-associated bone loss in mice.
Mouse study links prolonged antibiotic treatment with impaired neurogenesis and cognitive function
20 Jun 2016by Andreu Prados
A new study, led by Dr. Susanne Wolf from the Department of Cellular Neuroscience at Max-Delbrueck-Centre for Molecular Medicine in Berlin (Germany), has found that prolonged antibiotic treatment, which kills gut bacteria, can also stop growth of new brain cells in mice.
Mechanism of probiotic action in healthy individuals still unsettled
6 Jun 2016by Kristina Campbell
A recent systematic review in Genome Medicine, authored by Nadja B. Kristensen and colleagues from the University of Copenhagen (Denmark), investigated the impact of probiotic supplementation on the fecal microbiota of healthy adults. The authors, who analyzed seven randomized controlled trials to reach their conclusion, found that probiotics do not change fecal microbiota composition.
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is one of the most frequent metabolic complications of pregnancy and its prevalence is up to 12% in developed countries. Nowadays, several studies are investigating new therapies for glucose control that may complement diet, exercise, and pharmacological therapies.
Perioperative probiotic intervention may benefit individuals undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer
19 Feb 2016by Kristina Campbell
When patients undergo surgery for colorectal cancer (CRC), can probiotics help recover bowel functions, or even prevent postoperative infections and complications?
A recent meta-analysis of randomised clinical trials (RCTs), led by Dr Maria García-Romero from the National Institute of Pediatrics in Mexico, supports the use of synbiotics for the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD).
Probiotics (mainly Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium) are often consumed in dairy products, such as yogurts and fermented dairy drinks.
In new understandings of IBS, diet and probiotics emerging as promising treatments
2 Oct 2015by Kristina Campbell
When talking about irritable bowel syndrome [IBS], Dr. Eamonn Quigley eschews the term 'functional disorder'. For Quigley, a gastroenterologist and researcher at Houston Methodist Hospital (USA), it's only a matter of time before the disordered physiology of IBS becomes clear.
Numerous studies focused on the role of probiotics have permitted to enlarge our knowledge of the potential use of an increasing number of probiotic strains in host's physiology. In this critical review, Le Barz and co-workers examined the most