Human studies on probiotics and endogenous lactic acid bacteria in the urogenital tract

Authors

Gregor Reid, Lawson Health Research Institute
Sanjeev Anand, ICAR - National Dairy Research Institute
Max O. Bingham, University of Reading
Gabriel Mbugua, Kgatleng District Council
Torkel Wadstrom, Lunds Universitet
Roy Fuller
Kingsley Anukam, University of Benin
Melanie Katsivo, Lawson Health Research Institute

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2005

Journal

Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology

Volume

39

Issue

6

First Page

485

Last Page

488

URL with Digital Object Identifier

10.1097/01.mcg.0000165648.32371.38

Abstract

Every minute of every day more and more children die of diarrheal diseases and women, and girls become infected by HIV An estimated 7,000 women become infected each day. While many valiant efforts are being made to address these issues, until now they have proved to be markedly ineffective. The notion that lactic acid bacteria, formulated into food or dietary supplements, could have a role to play in slowing the morbidity and mortality associated with HIV/AIDS and gastroenteritis, is built upon sound clinical findings and scientific investigations, yet no international efforts have been placed in this approach, to date. We hereby summarize the reasons why such efforts should be made, provide an example of one model being set up in sub-Saharan Africa, and challenge the international community to consider the potential benefits of probiotics, especially for communities not reached by governmental and nongovernmental agencies. Copyright © 2005 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.