US Pharm. 2015;40(5):7.
Baltimore, MD—Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) may have uncovered why the microbe Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG), which is included in many popular probiotic products, is helpful for a variety of health conditions. LGG may act as a facilitator, modifying the activity of other gut bacteria. When Claire Fraser, PhD, of UMSOM tested the gut bacteria of 12 elderly subjects before and after they ingested LGG twice daily for 28 days, she found increases in certain genes that foster several species of gut bacteria that have a range of benefits in humans. The idea that some probiotics may work by affecting the overall ecosystem of the gut is a novel one, noted Dr. Fraser.
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