STUDIES OF THE INTESTINAL MICROFLORA - A PREREQUISITE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF PROBIOTICS

The intestinal microflora is composed of numerous bacterial species th at inhabit the distal small bowel and the large bowel. This complex mi crobial collection weilds marked influences on the biochemistry, physi ology, immunology and disease resistance of the host. The derivation o f scientifically valid probiotic products should be based on knowledge of the intestinal microflora because, by definition, consumption of t he probiotic impacts on the microbial community harboured in the diges tive tract. Variation in the stability and complexity of bacterial pop ulations harboured by different human subjects may influence the outco me of probiotic administration. An understanding of the colonisation a ttributes, biochemical activities, and immunostimulatory properties of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria is required so that rational choices can be made in the selection of strains for incorporation into probiot ic products. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.