Libor Ebringer
In the past decade there has been a dramatic increase in scientific work supporting the concept that there are clinical benefits to ingesting probiotics. Probiotics have been defined as non-pathogenic micro-organisms that, when ingested exert a positive influence on host health or physiology. Dietary probiotic lactic acid bacteria are mostly known for their widespread use in the preparation of fermented food including bryndza (Liptov cheese). Although considerable progress has been made in oral bacteriotherapy, focussed efforts by basic scientists and clinical investigators and continued support from pharmaceutical companies is required to succesfully develop probiotics for use in clinical medicine. These research results will probably be as essential for the positioning of probiotic preparations as either a food supplement or as pharmaceutical preparation. Several newer high potency probiotic preparations appear to have a great advantage over traditional preparations. Probiotics offer both protection against and cure of a variety of endemic and acute diseases.