What Is a Probiotic Culture?

A probiotic culture is a cluster of microorganisms that have the ability to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the human digestive tract. When taken as dietary supplements, probiotic cultures increase the amount of healthy gut flora that are naturally present in the stomach and large intestines. Popular awareness of probiotic cultures has grown considerably over the past decade as the role of probiotics in treating chronic gastrointestinal conditions has become more illuminated.

History

• Probiotic cultures were initially examined at the Pasteur Institute by famed microbiologist Dr. Eli Metchnikoff between 1902 and 1914. During his experiments with fermented dairy products, Metchnikoff theorized that the acidic quality of substances like sour milk enhanced digestive function by stabilizing the pH of the stomach. Further research showed the positive effects to instead be caused by the natural bacterial cultures that exist in dairy products. The term "probiotics" was given in 1953 to the group of bacteria strains that assist in digestive function, and since then over 20 strains of probiotic bacteria have been identified.

Benefits

• Probiotic cultures offer many benefits to humans when regularly ingested. An immediate result of using probiotics is an increase in the frequency and ease of bowel movements, however long-term results have been shown to include everything from lowering cholesterol and blood pressure to assisting immune function. There are also some claims that regular use of probiotics can help ease the symptoms of lactose intolerance, irritable bowel syndrome and colitis.

Side Effects

• Side effects associated with ingesting probiotic cultures are not serious and tend to fade after several days of regular use. Diarrhea, abdominal bloating, cramping and frequent gas are typical side effects of probiotic cultures. However, these side effects can be minimized by slowly increasing the amount of probiotic cultures that are ingested on a daily basis over the course of a week.

Warning

• While probiotic cultures have been proven safe for ingestion, a 2008 study noted an increase in the number of deaths of individuals who took probiotics and also suffered from acute pancreatitis. Follow-up studies are in progress.

Identification

• Within the past 5 years, probiotic cultures have been included in a range of ingestible items varying from dietary supplements to dairy products. Capsules containing acidophilus, a probiotic bacterial substance, are available as an over-the-counter dietary supplement to augment the existing colonies of bacteria in the stomach. Similarly, many popular brands of yogurt, such as Activia and Dannon, have started manufacturing probiotic-enhanced lines that include live active cultures.