As eager as one may be to greet a newborn, an early arrival is never good. Preterm birth (PTB) — when an infant is born before 37 weeks of gestation — is a serious problem across the globe. With an estimated 15 million cases annually, spontaneous preterm birth (SPTB) is the leading cause of death in … [Read more...] about Preterm Birth: A Role for Probiotics?
Microbiome Environment
Probiotics Show Promise in Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease causing neuropathological changes and a severe decline in cognitive function. The most common cause of dementia, AD has no known cure. Although some medications may delay the loss of cognition and memory, definitive interventions … [Read more...] about Probiotics Show Promise in Alzheimer’s Disease
Bariatric Surgery: A Role for Probiotics?
Bariatric surgery improves metabolism and inflammation in severe obesity and is associated with gut microbiota modifications. However, the role of the gut microbiota in inducing these beneficial changes is controversial in part because the surgery may not fully restore microbial balance. Recent … [Read more...] about Bariatric Surgery: A Role for Probiotics?
A Role for Probiotics in Mastitis?
Despite the considerable health benefits of breastfeeding, initiation and duration rates continue to fall short of international guidelines. Acute mastitis is one of the main reasons why women stop breastfeeding. While antibiotics are frequently prescribed for this painful breast condition, their … [Read more...] about A Role for Probiotics in Mastitis?
Individual Response to Prebiotics Varies
By the current definition, a prebiotic is “a substrate that is selectively utilized by host microorganisms conferring a health benefit.” A fiber-rich diet —containing non-digestible carbohydrates and other substrates such as polyphenols — as well as supplements containing such compounds are … [Read more...] about Individual Response to Prebiotics Varies
Prebiotics in a Nutshell
Throughout human history, beneficial microbes have adapted to thrive on specific substances in the food we eat. Yet only in the past few decades have scientists homed in on which substrates —and underlying mechanisms of action—are used to best nourish them. The concept of “prebiotics” has since … [Read more...] about Prebiotics in a Nutshell