Probiotics as Anti-Inflammatory

Researchers at Cork University College in Ireland recently demonstrated that a special strain of probiotic not only affect the digestive tract, it can also affect the entire immune system. The group treated mice with the freeze-dried powder of probiotic Bifidobacterium infantis 35624 three weeks before injecting them with salmonella, bacteria that can cause intestinal infections. The mice that received the probiotic showed a marked increase in certain immune cells that protected them from the harmful bacteria. Researchers suggest that this finding may have a potential applications in treating inflammatory responses due to arthritis, diabetes, and organ transplants. UPI.com, August 26, 2008
2008-09-06 15:08:40