Farnworth Edward R
Food Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Saint Hyacinthe, QC, Canada.
J Nutr. 2008 Jun;138(6):1250S-4S. doi: 10.1093/jn/138.6.1250S.
As the health benefits of ingesting live bacteria become more evident, foods are now being produced that contain probiotic bacteria. The data to support label health claims for probiotic products are often difficult to provide. The experimental evidence to identify probiotic microorganisms and to demonstrate their efficacy in clinical trials is more challenging than for other potential functional foods because effects are mediated by living microorganisms and may therefore be influenced by the status of these microorganisms. Clinical trials to show efficacy are expensive. Obtaining appropriate samples is difficult. A scientific consensus is building to support the claim that the ingestion of certain probiotic bacteria reduces lactose intolerance and can reduce the duration of rotavirus diarrheas. Some probiotic bacteria have "generally accepted as safe" status; proof of the safety of any probiotic is essential. Japanese health regulatory officials, using their Foods for Specific Health Use system, have approved human health claims for over 20 probiotic products. On the other hand, at this time, no probiotic product is sold in Canada that carries a label health claim. This illustrates the considerable discrepancies across countries in perception of health effects of probiotics.
随着摄入活细菌对健康的益处愈发明显，如今已生产出含有益生菌的食品。支持益生菌产品标签健康声明的数据往往难以提供。识别益生菌微生物并在临床试验中证明其功效的实验证据，比其他潜在功能性食品更具挑战性，因为其效果是由活微生物介导的，因此可能会受到这些微生物状态的影响。显示功效的临床试验成本高昂。获取合适的样本也很困难。目前正在形成一项科学共识，以支持摄入某些益生菌可减轻乳糖不耐受并缩短轮状病毒腹泻病程这一说法。一些益生菌具有“一般认为安全”的地位；任何益生菌的安全性证明至关重要。日本卫生监管官员利用其特定健康用途食品系统，已批准了20多种益生菌产品的人体健康声明。另一方面，目前在加拿大，没有一款益生菌产品带有标签健康声明进行销售。这说明了各国在对益生菌健康影响的认知上存在相当大的差异。
