The protective role of probiotics in disturbed enteric microbiota

Abstract

The human gut is colonized by a large number of micro-organisms that mainly occupy the ileum and colon. This complex microbial ecosystem known as the enteric microbiota maintains a large variety of physiological functions that exerts both harmful and beneficial effects on human health. The stability of this microbiota is crucial because various disease states are associated with its imbalance. Enteric microbiota alterations may also be involved in the inflammatory responses seen in allergic and inflammatory bowel diseases. Probiotics are thought to improve resistance to intestinal infections by preventing the growth of potentially harmful bacteria and improving the immune response. They must be continuously ingested to achieve an exogenous probiotic effect. The persistence of a probiotic depends on its interaction with the enteric microbiota as well as with the immune system. Probiotics could minimize disturbances of the enteric microbiota following an antibiotic treatment. Probiotics could also be appropriate for alleviating inflammatory bowel disease symptoms and stabilizing the intestinal microbiota. Finally, probiotics act on a wide variety of cells in the intestine to modulate the immune system towards pro- or anti-inflammatory action. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.