| Theme |
Diet as Etiologic Factors and Therapeutic Tools in Digestive Diseases |
| Title |
Food Influences Functions of Human Body and Inflammation of Gastrointestinal Tract |
| Author |
Toshifumi Hibi |
Department of Internal Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine |
| Author |
Hidehiko Matsukawa |
Department of Internal Medicine, Kyosai Tachikawa Hospital |
| [ Summary ] |
It is an epidemiologically given that food is related to the pathogenesis of inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Experimental data from animal models and clinical data from humans support this view. Each nutritional factor influences the environment of the gastrointestinal tract, including gut flora in many ways. Recently, probiotics and prebiotics have been noted as being part of a new therapeutic category, which suppresses inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract by influencing gut flora. In this paper, we summarized recent reports on probiotics and prebiotics as a therapy for inflammatory bowel disease. At present, the effectiveness of probiotics and prebiotics is restricted to some conditions and they are not much more than adjuvant therapy. However, in combination with conventional drug therapy, they can improve the quality of life for patients. |