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. 2002 May;50(Suppl 3):iii54–iii59. doi: 10.1136/gut.50.suppl_3.iii54

Probiotics: a role in the treatment of intestinal infection and inflammation?

E Isolauri, P Kirjavainen, S Salminen
PMCID: PMC1867676  PMID: 11953334

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Figure 1 .

Figure 1

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Evolution of the gut microflora and the rationale of probiotic therapy. Different internal and external challenges interfere with the normal balance of the healthy gut microflora. Their effects can be reversed by specific strains of the healthy gut microflora. Normalisation of the properties of unbalanced indigenous microflora by specific strains of the healthy gut microflora forms the rationale of probiotic therapy.

Figure 2 .

Figure 2

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Gut microflora in inflammation. Inflammation may direct the composition and function of a balanced normal microflora to become aberrant and immunogenic, leading to perpetuation of the inflammation and gut barrier dysfunction. Probiotic bacteria may counteract the inflammatory process by enhancing the degradation of enteral antigens, reducing the secretion of inflammatory mediators, and promoting the normalisation of indigenous flora and the exclusion of pathogens.

Selected References

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