Delineation of Beneficial Characteristics of Effective Probiotics

Abstract

Researchers have been producing literature on the nutritional and therapeutic benefits of lactic cultures from as early as 1908. Today evidence supported by clinical data documents that consumption of lactic cultures controls gastrointestinal infections,1 reduces serum cholesterol,2 helps in digesting lactose in lactose-intolerant individuals,3 and reduces the incidence of colon cancer4 and yeast infections by immunomodulation.5 Recent studies also indicate that lactic cultures are useful in the management of food allergy.6