|
|
|
Home » Probiotics help maintain digestive health during chronic stress
The Facts:
- Chronic psychological stress can cause intestinal abnormalities.
- A study in rats found that the use of probiotics (Lactobacillus strains) helped protect against stress-induced changes in the ileum and colon.
- Studies are necessary to determine if probiotics have similar benefits in the intestinal tract of humans.
Dr Shaun Holt: What does the term “probiotic” mean exactly? The term is used to describe dietary supplements that contain potentially beneficial micro-organisms. Interest has been huge since a study published in The Lancet a few years ago showed that probiotics could potentially reduce the incidence of eczema. This study, which was conducted in rats, provides some preliminary evidence that probiotics can have beneficial effects locally in the bowel, by seemingly preventing abnormalities that are seen in the bowel due to chronic stress.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/gut.2005.080739
|
|
|
