PROBIOTIC: SOURCES, PRODUCTS AND HEALTH BENEFITS – REVIEW

Abstract

Probiotics have gained a lot of attention lately due to their potential therapeutic and preventive functions in human health. Probiotics are defined as live bacteria that, when given in sufficient concentrations, offer health advantages to the host. Probiotics are frequently included in nutritional supplements and fermented dairy and non-dairy products. Probiotics are present in a wide range of foods, including grains, vegetables, legumes, fruits, and dairy products. The majority of probiotics with dairy and non-dairy bases are a rich source of beneficial microorganisms. These beneficial microbes, which are mostly belonging to the genera Lactobacillus, Bifidobacteria, and yeast, play an essential role in maintaining the gut microbiota's balance. Probiotics may be utilized as an adjuvant in the treatment of cancer, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and gastrointestinal conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome and diarrhea. The host's immune response is modulated, the gut's barrier function is improved, and harmful bacteria are competitively excluded as part of the mechanism of action. Hence, this review paper explores the sources, properties, mechanisms of action, and health benefits of probiotics.