Çocuk Sağlığı ve Hastalıkları Dergisi
2013 , Vol 56 , Num 1
History of probiotics and yogurt
Hacettepe Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Pediatri Profesörü
Probiotics are described as live microorganisms, which when administered
in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host, especially by
improving intestinal microbial balance. The major consumption of probiotics
is in dairy-based food form, which contains intestinal species of Lactobacillus
and Bifidobacterium. The idea of probiotics was first framed in the early 20th
century by Elie Metchnikoff, a Russian Nobel Prize winner and considered to
be the father of modern immunology. He was the first scientist to propose
the therapeutic use of lactic acid bacteria for the prevention or treatment
of several health issues. He believed that the lactic acid bacteria in yogurt
were responsible for the longevity and overall health of Bulgarian peasants.
Throughout the late 19th and early 20th century, various scientists isolated the
“friendly” bacteria and pinpointed their benefits on the intestine. However,
even before that, there was a long-held belief in many cultures throughout
the world that cultured dairy products produced by bacterial fermentation
of milk, such as yogurt, had beneficial health effects. The word is derived
from the Turkish, “yoğurt”, and is related to the obsolete verb “yoğmak”, to
be curdled or to thicken. The history of probiotics and yogurt is reviewed
in this article.
Anahtar Kelimeler :
probiyotikler, yoğurt, tarih.