Effect of special Hungarian probiotic kefir on faecal microflora.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of a four-week consumption of a special Hungarian probiotic agent (Biofir) on the faecal microflora in human healthy subjects.


METHODS
The effect of Biofir with 10(6)/cm3 initial germs on the faecal microflora was studied in 120 healthy volunteers (71 females, 49 males). The traditional Russian type kefir was used as control. The various germ groups and pH values were determined in wk 2, 4 and 6.


RESULTS
The number of all microbes increased during the 4-week probiotic treatment. The number of microbes increased 4.3-fold in the control group and 6.8-fold in Biofir-treated group. The probiotic kefir caused multiplication of the probiotic flora, meanwhile the undesired bacteria multiplied in the control group. No significant change of pH values of the faeces was found in both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The Hungarian probiotic kefir (Biofir) is capable of promoting multiplication of probiotic bacterial flora in the large bowel.
Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Pécs, H-7624 Pécs, Ifjúság útja 13, Hungary. maria.figler@aok.pte.hu
Mária
M
Figler
Gyula
G
Mózsik
Béla
B
Schaffer
Beáta
B
Gasztonyi
Pongrác
P
Acs
Béla
B
Szili
Regina
R
Rab
Sándor
S
Szakály
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001644:Bifidobacterium / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D043302:Cultured Milk Products; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D005243:Feces / Q000201:enzymology / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007420:Intestine, Large / Q000382:microbiology; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D050296:Microbial Viability; D008875:Middle Aged; D019936:Probiotics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012440:Saccharomyces / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors