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Gut Health (gut + health)
Selected AbstractsProbiotic fermented milks: Present and futureINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DAIRY TECHNOLOGY, Issue 4 2009BORJA SÁNCHEZ Milk and dairy products have been part of human nutrition since ancient times, constituting an important part of a balanced diet. Fermented dairy products containing living micro-organisms have traditionally been used to restore gut health, being among the pioneers in functional foods. Such utilisation of live micro-organisms forms the basis of the probiotic concept, which constitutes a fast growing market for the development of new products. In this article, we review the current status of fermented milk as a vehicle for delivery of beneficial bacteria and look into future new directions and challenges. [source] ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Effects of dietary supplementation of synbiotics and phytobiotics on performance, caecal coliform population and some oxidant/antioxidant parameters of broilersJOURNAL OF ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY AND NUTRITION, Issue 5 2010Z. Erdo Summary The current study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of synbiotics and phytobiotics on performance, small intestine weight, pH and caecal coliform counts of broilers. The influences of synbiotics and phytobiotics on oxidant/antioxidant status in the blood of broilers were also assessed. A total of 200 broiler chicks were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments, either fed a basal diet or the same diet supplemented with 1 g/kg synbiotic, 1 g/kg phytobiotic or 1 g/kg synbiotic plus 1 g/kg phytobiotic. The diet supplemented with both synbiotic and phytobiotic had no effect on body weight, body weight gain, feed intake and feed efficiency of broilers at the end of the study (p > 0.05). Neither small intestine weight nor pH was affected by any of the treatments. Supplementation of both synbiotic and phytobiotic to diet decreased the caecal coliform count (p < 0.01). Addition of synbiotics and phytobiotics in combination significantly increased plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) levels (p , 0.05), whereasphytobiotic addition alone showed only a slight increase. Similarly, elevated nitric oxide (NO) level was recorded in the synbiotic- and phytobiotic-fed group and in the phytobiotic-fed group (p , 0.001). Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities did not differ between the groups. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of synbiotic and phytobiotic improved the gut health by decreasing the caecal total coliform count, but growth performance was not affected by the supplementations. Further investigations are needed to determine the effects of phytobiotics on oxidative/antioxidative metabolism as regards their compositional analysis. [source] A microbial world within usMOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 6 2006Erwin G. Zoetendal Summary The microbial world within us includes a vast array of gastrointestinal (GI) tract communities that play an important role in health and disease. Significant progress has been made in recent years in describing the intestinal microbial composition based on the application of 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA)-based approaches. These were not only instrumental in providing a phylogenetic framework of the more than 1000 different intestinal species but also illustrated the temporal and spatial diversity of the microbial GI tract composition that is host-specific and affected by the genotype. However, our knowledge of the molecular and cellular bases of host,microbe interactions in the GI tract is still very limited. Here an overview is presented of the most recent developments and applications of novel culture-independent approaches that promise to unravel the mechanisms of GI tract functionality and subsequent possibilities to exploit specifically these mechanisms in order to improve gut health. [source] Prebiotic inulin-type fructans: nutritional benefits beyond dietary fibre sourceNUTRITION BULLETIN, Issue 3 2008H. Alexiou Summary For several years, there has been an increasing awareness of the fundamental role that the complex bacterial ecosystem plays in our health. Inulin and oligofructose are prebiotic dietary fibres naturally present in the chicory root. They escape metabolism in the small intestine, and their selective fermentation by the human colonic microflora leads to a shift in the composition of the indigenous bacterial ecosystem, in favour of health-promoting bifidobacteria. In addition to their dietary fibre effects on improved bowel regularity, several physiological advantages are linked to their specific pattern of fermentation in the colon, including improved mineral absorption, enhanced natural host defences and colonic protection, improved gut health, and beneficial influence on appetite regulation. The aim of the present review was to highlight the nutritional benefits of inulin-type fructans, focusing on key physiological functions. [source] Probiotic and Prebiotic Influence Beyond the Intestinal TractNUTRITION REVIEWS, Issue 11 2007Irene Lenoir-Wijnkoop Probiotics and prebiotics have long been appreciated for their positive influences on gut health. Research on the mechanisms and effects of these agents shows that their impact reaches beyond the intestine. Effects on the microecology and pathology of the oral cavity, stomach, and vaginal tract have been observed. Likely mediated through immune influences, systemic effects such as reduced severity of colds or other respiratory conditions, impact on allergy incidence and symptoms, and reduced absences from work or daycare have also been noted. These observations, among others, suggest a broader spectrum of influence than commonly considered for these unique substances. [source] Probiotics: A Critical Review of Their Potential Role as Antihypertensives, Immune Modulators, Hypocholesterolemics, and Perimenopausal TreatmentsNUTRITION REVIEWS, Issue 7 2007Min-Tze Liong PhD The conventional use of probiotics to modulate gastrointestinal health, such as in improving lactose intolerance, increasing natural resistance to infectious diseases in the gastrointestinal tract, suppressing traveler's diarrhea, and reducing bloating, has been well investigated and documented. Most of the mechanisms reported to date are mainly caused by the suppression of pathogenic bacteria. Currently, the potential applications of probiotics are being expanded beyond alleviating gastrointestinal disorders to include benefits involving antihypertension, immu-nomodulation, improving serum lipid profiles, and the alleviation of postmenopausal disorders. Although they seem promising, most of these postulated benefits are based on in vitro evaluations, and the lack of in vivo evidence and/or incompatible outcomes between in vitro experiments and in vivo trials has led to inconclusive claims. This present review highlights some of the previous roles of probiotics on gut health and addresses several potential roles currently being investigated. [source] Immune-stimulating and Gut Health-promoting Properties of Short-chain Fructo-oligosaccharidesNUTRITION REVIEWS, Issue 10 2002Francis R.J. Bornet M.D., Ph.D. Short-chain fructo-oligosaccharides are a group of linear fructose oligomers w ith a degree of polymerization ranging from one up to five (oligosaccharides). Recent observations in animal models demonstrate that prebiotics and probiotics may exert beneficial effects on gut health by enhancing gut-associated lymphoid tissue responses either directly or indirectly through the production of short-chain fatty acids and the enhanced growth of lactic bacteria such as bifidobacteria and lactobacilli. Demonstration of the potential health benefits of short-chain fructo-oligosaccharides on colon cancer risk is an active field of research in animal and human nutrition. [source] The effect of current grain feeding practices on hindgut starch fermentation and acidosis in the Australian racing ThoroughbredAUSTRALIAN VETERINARY JOURNAL, Issue 11 2006N Richards A survey of 72 thoroughbred trainers in several regions of NSW was conducted to better define current grain feeding practices, and the risks involved with grain feeding in the Australian thoroughbred racing industry. Results from the survey indicate that horses in the industry are currently being fed an average of 7.3 ± 0.23 kg of grain concentrate per day, with oats, commercial pre-mixed diets and corn most commonly used. The feeding of extruded, micronised and steam flaked grains was uncommon. The results of grain and faecal sample analyses conducted during the survey indicate that incomplete starch digestion in the equine small intestine and subsequent hindgut starch fermentation and low hindgut pH are common. These observations quantify the adverse impact of current grain feeding practices on faecal measures of gut health and demonstrate that when selecting grains for use in the thoroughbred racehorse, greater emphasis should be placed on the starch digestibility characteristics of grains. [source] | |||||||||||||