title: The therapeutic use of symbiotics.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Functional foods are health promoters and their use is associated with reduced risk of chronic degenerative and non-transmissible diseases. Examples are symbiotic. The association of one (or more) probiotic with a one (or more) prebiotic is called symbiotic, being the prebiotics complementary and probiotics synergistic, thus presenting a multiplicative factor on their individual actions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the evidences on the benefits of the use of symbiotics in the treatment of clinical and surgical situations.
  
  
  METHODS
  The headings symbiotic, probiotic and prebiotic were searched in Pubmed/Medline in the last 15 years, and were selected 25 articles, used for database.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The use of symbiotic may promote an increase in the number of bifidobacteria, glycemic control, reduction of blood cholesterol, balancing the intestinal flora which aids in reducing constipation and/or diarrhea, improves intestinal permeability and stimulation of the immune system. Clinical indications for these products has been expanded, in order to maximize the individual's physiological functions to provide greater. So, with the high interest in the clinical and nutritional control of disease, many studies have been conducted demonstrating the effectiveness of using symbiotic in improving and/or preventing various and/or symptoms of gastrointestinal diseases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Symbiotic behave differently and positively in various pathological situations.
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Aline Gamarra Taborda
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Flesch
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Aline Kirjner
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Poziomyck
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Daniel Carvalho
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Damin
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D056692:Prebiotics; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D056692:Prebiotics