Utilizing Probiotics for the Prevention and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Diseases
Erin Milner, Benjamin D. Stevens, Martino An, Victoria H. Lam, Michael Ainsworth, Preston Dihle +4 more
Frontiers in Microbiology
Abstract
Probiotics are heavily advertised to promote a healthy gastrointestinal tract and boost the immune system. This review article summarizes the history and diversity of probiotics, outlines conventional <i>in vitro</i> assays and <i>in vivo</i> models, assesses the pharmacologic effects of probiotic and pharmaceutical co-administration, and the broad impact of clinical probiotic utilization for gastrointestinal disease indications.
Concepts
ProbioticGastrointestinal tractImmune systemMedicineGastrointestinal diseaseDisease