Sheil Barbara, Shanahan Fergus, O'Mahony Liam
Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre and Department of Medicine, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
J Nutr. 2007 Mar;137(3 Suppl 2):819S-24S. doi: 10.1093/jn/137.3.819S.
Components of the commensal flora, including Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli, have been associated with beneficial effects on the host. These beneficial effects include maintenance of intestinal homeostasis, competitive exclusion of pathogens, production of antimicrobial compounds, promotion of gut barrier function, and immune modulation. Probiotics currently can be administered in dairy yogurts and drinks and also in the form of sachets or capsules. Although preliminary studies are clearly promising, placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind clinical trials are required to clarify the role of probiotic bacteria in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. The choice of probiotic bacteria, the optimal dose, mode of administration, and duration of therapy still need to be established. Detailed strain characterization is also required for all potential probiotic strains. As evidence accumulates to suggest a breakdown in tolerance toward ubiquitous intestinal bacteria, it appears logical to intervene by modulating the enteric flora. Increasingly, research suggests that probiotics may offer an alternative or adjuvant approach to conventional therapy by altering the intestinal microflora and modulating the host immune system.
共生菌群的组成部分，包括双歧杆菌和乳酸杆菌，已被证实对宿主具有有益作用。这些有益作用包括维持肠道内稳态、竞争性排斥病原体、产生抗菌化合物、促进肠道屏障功能以及免疫调节。目前，益生菌可以添加到酸奶和饮品中，也可以制成小包装或胶囊形式。尽管初步研究成果显著，但仍需要进行安慰剂对照、随机、双盲临床试验，以明确益生菌在治疗炎症性肠病中的作用。益生菌的选择、最佳剂量、给药方式和治疗持续时间仍有待确定。所有潜在的益生菌菌株都需要进行详细的菌株鉴定。随着越来越多的证据表明对普遍存在的肠道细菌的耐受性出现破坏，通过调节肠道菌群进行干预似乎是合理的。越来越多的研究表明，益生菌可能通过改变肠道微生物群和调节宿主免疫系统，为传统治疗提供一种替代或辅助方法。
