Resumo

VIZCAINO, Ricnia et al. PROBIOTICS CLINICAL USAGES. Arch Venez Puer Ped [online]. 2016, vol.79, n.1, pp.029-040. ISSN 0004-0649.

Probiotics may act in the host in a multifactorial way. In the intestinal lumen, probiotics work through interaction with the intestinal microbiota or by direct metabolic effects in the intestinal mucosa and epithelia. Probiotics affect digestive processes and are associated to the mucosal immune system and other organs such as the immune system, brain and urogenital epitellium. In the lumen, probiotics produce fermentation of low or non-absorbable substrates, modulate the production of gas, deconjugate bile salts, act to acidify short chain fatty acids and increase the intestinal transit. Probiotics act in the mucosa as a barrier and as bactericides; they inactivate toxins, reduce inflammation and stimulate immunologically complements and IgA. Although there are multiple probiotics available, there are few which have demonstrated a clear benefit in humans. Not one, however, has been found to produce all the beneficial effects. The colonization of the human gut by microbiota plays an important role in the development of obesity and other metabolic and immunological diseases. Microbiota are considered as inmuno-modulators capable of acting on innate and acquired or specific immunity. The influence of intestinal microbiota extends beyond the gastrointestinal tract and has an important role in the two-way communication between the latter and the central nervous system.

Palavras-chave : probiotics; clinical usages; obesity; allergies; children; adolescents.