title: An overview of probiotics and prebiotics.
abstract: This article reviews the origins and background of probiotics. Evidence for the potential mechanisms of probiotics and prebiotics, and their interactions with the gastrointestinal tract and the immune system are discussed. Evidence is examined for the use of probiotics to treat infantile diarrhoea, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease and atopic dermatitis.
authors.affiliation: Research Division, Department of Nutrition, King's College London. gareth.parkes@kcl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Gareth C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Parkes
mesh_terms: D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000451:nursing / Q000628:therapy; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D019936:Probiotics