What are Probiotics?
Probiotics are live microorganisms thought to contribute to the health and well being of parts of the body naturally inhabited by microorganisms. Microbiologists call these ordinary and sometimes helpful bacteria and yeasts “microflora.” Collectively, the microflora of the body make up the human microbiome: all the microorganisms living on and in a human.
Probiotics in Dietary Supplements
Probiotic bacteria, yeasts, and fungi are sold by dietary supplement manufacturers to enable consumers to re-balance and supplement their bodies with beneficial microbes. The gastrointestinal tract alone contains approximately 100 trillion microorganisms, which are mainly bacteria.
The GI tract microbiome is heavily influenced by diet and can in turn impact our health. Ideal probiotic microorganisms are generally regarded as safe; resistant to bile, pancreatic enzymes, and stomach acid; stimulating to the immune system; non-carcinogenic; and survive passage through the stomach into at least the small intestine and ideally the large intestine and colon.
Microchem laboratory provides probiotic testing services as part of our overall dietary supplement testing portfolio.
Common Probiotic Microorganisms
The most common bacteria and yeasts used follow:
- Lactobacillus (bacteria)
- Bifidobacterium (bacteria)
- Bacillus (bacteria)
- Saccharomyces (yeast)
Some of these bacteria can be found in fermented foods such as kimchi or pickles, as well as various dairy products such as yogurt.
What is the difference between Prebiotics and Probiotics?
Prebiotics are food components which are not completely digestible, so they serve as food for bacteria and yeasts. Probiotics are ordinary microorganisms that inhabit the body and consume prebiotics and other nutrients.
