The Effect of Probiotic Intake on Intestinal Permeability of Healthy Adults

A typical individual will encounter countless instances in their life where various stressors, such as the consumption of alcohol, ingestion of pain relieving medications such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or experiencing stress itself, may damage ones intestines in a way they never knew was possible. All of these stressors have been associated with increased intestinal permeability, which is essentially when the walls of your intestines lose their integrity so parts of the stool or toxins in the intestines can actually be absorbed into the body. Increased intestinal permeability can be harmful over time. One solution that is currently being investigated to defend the body during these periods of “stress” is through the consumption of a probiotic supplement, which are live bacteria that have been shown to provide benefits to humans. In the present study, the effects of a probiotic supplement will be studied in 30 healthy individuals.

Faculty Supervisor:

Stan Kubow

Student:

Taylor Combs

Partner:

Lallemand Health Solutions

Discipline:

Food science

Sector:

Agriculture

University:

McGill University