This presentation, entitled, “Probiotics: From Basic Science to Clinical Application” was delivered by Eamon M Quigley, MD at the ASPEN Symposium in February 2015. Dr. Quigley is the Chief of the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Houston Methodist Hospital in Texas.
His presentation begins with a definition of probiotics and discussion of the health benefits they can have on the body. Current clinical applications for probiotics include diarrheal illnesses, necrotizing enterocolitis, inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and liver disease. He also discusses the modes of action for probiotics in the body.
Further, he discusses the effects of probiotics, such as immune effects, stress reduction, and gut barrier protection. The therapeutic potential of a probiotic strain is considerable, but remains to be fully realized. We must take caution in extrapolating from animal models to human application, and require high quality studies in humans as well as in animal models.
