Scientists are trying to explore the usefulness of probiotics, the useful bacteria in the intestine, in improving the health status in some diseases. The exploration is on the basis that probiotics when ingested helps in improving the health status. According to Dr. M. K. Bhan, Department of Paediatrics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), studies are being done to find their usefulness in preventing diarrhoea in undernourished children.
Probiotics have been found to be useful in antibiotics associated with diarrhoea, acute gastrointestinal infection especially viral gastro enteritis, allergy and inflammatory bowel disease. The usefulness in prevention of cancer has been established in animal studies, according to Dr. Bhan, who further stated that good quality research on probiotics were not available till a few years ago. "Educational institutions in the West are now studying probiotics which was not likely to be impacted by commercial interests. There is a need to look at them seriously," Dr. Bhan reiterated.
Dr. Bhan, while maintaining that studies on probiotics in India too has not picked up pace claimed that in the country probiotics were available in capsule or liquid form and are being taken only under doctors' prescription usually for children with recurrent diarrhoea. "They are also mixed with antibiotics as they have been found to be useful in reducing the negative impact of antibiotics on intestines. However, their costs is high at the moment and their benefits in relation to cost need to be evaluated, Dr. Bhan stated, adding further that at the current moment, the best strategy would be to promote breast feeding and natural products such as curd which are useful in promoting the growth of the beneficial bacteria.
"The good bacteria in the intestine though provides for a protective cover when a proper balance in maintained can also cause digestive and other health problems if the balance is disturbed which allows them to overgrow," Dr. Bhan added.