Can good bacteria treat diarrhoea?

The Indian Council of Medical research is conducting a study to examine the benefits of probiotics on diseases such as diarrhoea and many respiratory diseases, septicemia and colon and gastric cancers, Rhythma Kaul.

The Indian Council of Medical research is conducting a study to examine the benefits of probiotics on diseases such as diarrhoea and many respiratory diseases, septicemia and colon and gastric cancers.

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Probiotics are beneficial bacteria found in yeast and is now also used to fortify yoghurt and fermented drinks such as Yakult.

“Probiotics appear to extend far beyond what was originally conceptualized and we want to confirm their benefits on the Indian population,” said Prof NK Ganguly, former Director General, Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) at the 2nd probiotics symposium in the Capital on Friday.

The research will also examine the benefits of probiotic products in treating patients with Non- Alcoholic Steatorrhoeic Hepatosis (NASH), also known as fatty liver, which is a common problem of people from urban India.

“One of our aims is to reduce diarrhoeal diseases, which may not seem a problem in the urban set-up,” said Dr GB Nair, NICED.