Development of prebiotic food products and health benefits

In the current context from the nutritional and epidemiological point of view, it can be seen an occurrence increase of ChronicNon-Communicable Diseases, as well as the inflammatory ones, ordinarily associated to a wrong feed, poor in fibers andrich in fats and simple and refined carbohydrates. This view has evidenced a progressive increase of diseases, highlighting theimportance of colonic microbiota as an active mechanism of infectious processes control and modulation of immunologic answer.Therefore, constant the worries related to recovering and maintenance of healthy intestines, stocked with prebiotic nutrientsthat support the survival of beneficial health agents. This way, researchers and the segment of food industry has encouragedthe development of products with prebiotic properties, looking for the health promotion, treatment and diseases prevention,besides the strengthening on the competitive market. This article will embrace the contents about physiologic effects of themain known prebiotic, their potential in relation to fermentatives bacterias, new developed products and used methodologiesto the recognition of pre and probiotic functions.

Some physiologic effects of pelvic irradiation on the gastro-intestinal tract

1. Studies were made on the physiological effects of external pelvic radiation among groups of patients with primary carcinoma of the cervix of variable stages. All of this investigative work as done before and immediately after irradiation, with each patient receiving an average total tumor dose of 5700 r. given for a period of 5-6 weeks2. All of the patients suffered some gastro-intestinal symptoms such as anorexia, nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea, the latter being a prominent feature in each case3. There is marked impairment of glucose absorption from the G.I. tract4. There is an increase in fecal water and fat5. There is a decrease in the free HCL in 14 of the 18 patients studied6. Occult blood and sugar in the stools were negative in all of the patients with no significant change of pH in each case7. The excretion of radioactive urokon from the G.I. tract is increased8. In the 3-4 months follow-up post treatment, there is tendency of the oral glucose tolerance curve to reach the pre-radiation treatment levels. (Summary)