From Yaks to Yogurt: The History, Development, and Current Use of Probiotics

Abstract

The development of probiotics, which are living bacteria or yeasts used to confer a health benefit on the host, has paralleled our research in food preservation, microbiologic identification techniques, and our understanding of how the complex interactions in microbiota impact the host's health and recovery from disease. This review briefly describes the history of probiotics, where probiotic strains were originally isolated, and the types of probiotic products currently available on the global market. In addition, the uses or indications for these probiotics are described, along with the types of clinical investigations that have been done. Continuing challenges persist for the proper probiotic strain identification, regulatory pathways, and how healthcare providers can choose a specific strain to recommend to their patients.

Effect of Probiotics on Central Nervous System Functions in Animals and Humans: A Systematic Review

“…The clinical efficacy of probiotic interventions and guidelines for their administration in diseases such as diarrhea, allergies, IBS, and inflammatory bowel disease has been addressed in previous reviews. 15,71,72 More studies investigating probiotic effects in mental disorders are needed.…”

Probiotics in Gut-Bone Signaling

“…In the 1950s, Werner Kollath, a German scientist, used the word “probiotic” to be inclusive of all organic and inorganic supplements that restored the health of malnourished patients [11, 12, 19, 20]. Years later, probiotics were further defined as substances produced by one microorganism to promote growth of another microorganism [11, 12, 16, 18–26]. In the 1970s, Fujii and Cook described probiotics as compounds that build resistance to infection in the host but do not inhibit the growth of microorganisms in vitro [11, 18, 27].…”

“…Fuller’s definition stressed the importance of live cells as an essential part of the effective probiotic [18]. His definition also stated that a probiotic or supplement will benefit the host by improving the intestinal microbial balance [11, 26]. Many thought this definition was not as applicable to humans as it was to animals [11].…”

The effects of probiotics administration on the milk production, milk components and fecal bacteria microbiota of dairy cows

“…Probiotics is defined as 'live microorganism which when administered in adequate amounts confers a health benefit on the host' [3]. They can regulate the balance of gut microbes, promote the growth and development of animals, and improve the host resistance to diseases [4].…”