Health professionals' knowledge of probiotics : an international survey

The objective of this study was to survey health professionals to investigate their knowledge of probiotics. An online survey was conducted to gather data on the knowledge of health professionals. The online survey was distributed via email and social media platforms using snowball sampling. A total of 1066 health professionals (859; 80.6% female) from 30 countries responded to the survey. Most of the respondents evaluated their knowledge of probiotics as medium (36.4%) or good (36.2%). Only 8.9% of the respondents rated it as excellent. No statistical difference in knowledge was found between male and female health professionals. Over 80% of pharmacists, allied health professionals, medical doctors and dentists, and other health professionals knew the correct definition of probiotics as “live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host”, whereas three quarters of registered nurses and midwives and less than two thirds of psychologists identified the correct definition. Statistically, more female than male health professionals knew the correct definition of probiotics. The most frequently recognized species of bacteria containing probiotic strains were Lactobacillus acidophilus (92%), Bifidobacterium bifidum (82%), and Lactobacillus rhamnosus (62%). The opinions on when it is best to take probiotics were different (χ2 = 28.375; p < 0.001), with 90.2% of respondents identifying that probiotics have beneficial effects if taken during antibiotic therapy, 83.5% for diarrhea, 70.6% for constipation, 63.3% before traveling abroad, and 60.4% for treating allergies. Almost 79% of health professionals involved in this study have advised their patients to use probiotics and 57.5% of the respondents wanted to learn more about probiotics. All things considered, health professionals have a medium level of knowledge of probiotics, which could be improved by the implementation of targeted learning programs. As probiotics have many beneficial effects in a wide range of health areas, health professionals need to adopt the use of probiotics in clinical practice

Implementation of food matrix effects into chemical food contaminant risk assessment

Abstract Food risk assessment plays an important role in protecting public health worldwide. Stakeholders involved in food risk assessment, such as national authorities, agencies, non‐governmental organisations (NGOs), industry and consumers, need to properly understand the terminology of food risk assessment effectively. In this respect, the first part of the EU‐FORA work programme (WP1) aimed to provide insights into the actual translation of two essential terms used in food risk assessment. ‘Hazard’ and ‘risk’ were first identified and compared between the English version of various food regulations and their equivalents in the national legislation of EU Member States. The comparison and critical evaluation revealed several inconsistencies. These inconsistencies could lead to misinterpretations, followed by errors in conducting risk assessments or communicating risks. We recommend that consistency is restored and maintained so that the message is properly communicated. The second part of the work programme (WP2) was focused on a specific area within chemical risk assessment (CRA). In this context, special attention was given to the impact of the food matrix on the bioaccessibility and bioavailability of heavy metals and metalloids. After collection and careful selection of data from scientific journals, a database with information on the bioaccessibility and bioavailability of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg) and arsenic (As) in different food matrices was created for future statistical analyses related to dietary exposure

In vitro selection and characterization of new probiotic candidates from table olive microbiota.

To date, only a few studies have investigated the complex microbiota of table olives in order to identify new probiotic microorganisms, even though this food matrix has been shown to be a suitable source of beneficial lactic acid bacteria (LAB). Two hundred and thirty eight LAB, belonging to Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus pentosus and Leuconostoc mesenteroides species, and isolated from Nocellara Etnea table olives, have been screened in this survey through an in vitro approach. A simulation of transit tolerance in the upper human gastrointestinal tract, together with autoaggregation and hydrophobicity, have been decisive in reducing the number of LAB to 17 promising probiotics. None of the selected strains showed intrinsic resistances towards a broad spectrum of antibiotics and were therefore accurately characterized on an undifferentiated and 3D functional model of the human intestinal tract made up of H4-1 epithelial cells. As far as the potential colonization of the intestinal tract is concerned, a high adhesion ratio was observed for Lb. plantarum O2T60C (over 9%) when tested in the 3D functional model, which closely mimics real intestinal conditions. The stimulation properties towards the epithelial barrier integrity and the in vitro inhibition of L. monocytogenes adhesion and invasion have also been assessed. Lb. plantarum S1T10A and S11T3E enhanced trans-epithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and therefore the integrity of the polarized epithelium in the 3D model. Moreover, S11T3E showed the ability to inhibit L. monocytogenes invasion in the undifferentiated epithelial model. The reduction in L. monocytogenes infection, together with the potential enhancement of barrier integrity and an adhesion ratio that was above the average in the 3D functional model (6.9%) would seem to suggest the Lb. plantarum S11T3E strain as the most interesting candidate for possible in vivo animal and human trials

Novel and established intestinal cell line models - An indispensable tool in food science and nutrition

The aim of this review is to present the recent developments and examine the future potential of functional cell models as indispensable in vitro tools in current food and nutritional science fields. Cell models provide the platform for preliminary research and contribute in the substantiation of health claims in foods by elucidating the biological plausibility through the involved mechanism of action. Applications include research on bioavailability and adsorption/transport in nutritional or toxicological settings, studies on the allergic effects of food components, host-pathogen gut interactions as well as risk assessment and modelling of potential hazardous substances in the food chain.JRC.I.5-Systems Toxicolog

Dendrogram resulting from the hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) of the 55 strains resistant to the simulation of digestion.

<p>The calculation of the dissimilarity between the cases is based on three independent indices expressed in percentage: ODS, autoaggregation (AA) and hydrophobicity (H). <i>Lb casei Shirota</i> and <i>Lb. rhamnosus</i> GG (LGG) were inserted in the HCA as reference probiotic controls.</p

LAB strains that are able to inhibit the adhesion and invasion of <i>L. monocytogenes</i> (MOI:10).

<p>The data are the average (± SEM) of three independent experiments and are expressed as percentage ratios of the recovered pathogens in the treated wells with respect to those recovered from the non -treated well (Lmn). The marked bars (*) indicate significantly lower counts (log₁₀ CFU mL⁻¹) than those of the cells infected with <i>L. monocytogenes</i> alone (Student’s <i>t</i>-test, <i>P</i><0.05).</p

Time dependent TEER of the polarized H4 monolayer exposed to the strains: O2T60C, S1T10A, S11T3E and <i>L. monocytogenes</i> WT (Lmn).

<p>The untreated monolayer was used as a reference control. The bacterial effect on TEER dynamics was tested with 10⁷ CFU mL⁻¹ of bacterial inoculum. The data of three independent experiments are expressed as the ratio (%) of TEER at time n in relation to the initial value (t₀). The marked bars (*) indicate significantly different values (<i>P</i><0.05) from the untreated control (ANOVA with Duncan’s test as post hoc). The complete dataset of the experiment (mean ± SEM), with the results of the statistical analysis, is reported in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0094457#pone.0094457.s002" target="_blank">Table S2</a>.</p

Experimental intestinal cell model settings used in this survey: (A) undifferentiated model with H4-1 epithelial cells grown on plastic surface; (B) functional 3D model where H4-1 were grown until the differentiation on microporous membrane; and (C) the complete 3D H4-1/TLT model with a differentiated layer of H4-1 in the apical compartment (1) and TLT monocyte/macrophages seeded in the basolateral side (2).

<p>In the models (B) and (C) the polarization of H4-1 cells was obtained after 14–15 days of incubation with regular changes of the media (cells initially seeded at a density of 50 000 cells per cm²), and confirmed by measuring the TEER. In the model (C) inserts with polarized H4-1 cells were transferred into wells that had been underlain with TLT cells (200 000 cells each well and growth for 24–48 h).</p