Probiotic Gastrointestinal Transit and Colonization After Oral Administration: A Long Journey
Shengyi Han, Yanmeng Lu, Jiaojiao Xie, Yiqiu Fei, Guiwen Zheng, Ziyuan Wang, Jie Liu, Longxian Lv, Zongxin Ling, Björn Berglund, Mingfei Yao, Lanjuan Li
Abstract
Orally administered probiotics encounter various challenges on their journey through the mouth, stomach, intestine and colon. The health benefits of probiotics are diminished mainly due to the substantial reduction of viable probiotic bacteria under the harsh conditions in the gastrointestinal tract and the colonization resistance caused by commensal bacteria. In this review, we illustrate the factors affecting probiotic viability and their mucoadhesive properties through their journey in the gastrointestinal tract, including a discussion on various mucosadhesion-related proteins on the probiotic cell surface which facilitate colonization.