BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Probiotics are living microorganisms whose adequate intake has shown healthful effects in the host body and have been suggested to have beneficial effects in the prevention and treatment of many diseases. This study was conducted to investigate the obstacles and challenges of probiotic products in the production process and their effects on human health.
METHODS: For data collection in this review article, articles containing one of the terms “probiotic”, “lactobacillus”, “bifidobacterium”, “biogenic amine” and “antibiotic resistance” from 1990 to 2017 were searched and reviewed at Thomson Reuters, Pubmed, Scopus, Science Direct and Islamic World Science Citation Center(ISC).
FINDING: Research has shown that systematic infections and chronic diseases, over-stimulation of the immune system, transfer of antibiotic resistance genes, production of biogenic amines and D-lactic acidosis, lack of survival and sustainability of microorganisms and ultimately the change in the taste and flavor of probiotic products are among the obstacles and challenges facing the production of probiotics. The use of bifidobacterium to transfer antibiotic resistance genes is safer than other microorganisms for the production of probiotic products.
CONCLUSION: Based on the results of this study, probiotics are only safe in healthy people, although they are very useful for human health, but their use in children, pregnant women and people with a weakened immune system causes infection
