Probiotics: a practical review of their role in specific clinical scenarios.

The use of probiotics (live viable microbial organisms) in the treatment of specific diseases has evolved into an extremely valuable option yet to be optimally used in clinical medicine. Probiotics have been shown to have immunomodulating properties and enhance the mucosal barrier. This review will briefly discuss the use of probiotics in inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatitis, liver transplantation, and various uses in diarrhea. When using probiotics, one must be cautious of the sometime overzealous claims that are commonly made when dealing with medical foods. As we begin to appreciate the degree of complexity that our indigenous microbial population has on health, it is only then that we can begin to understand the importance in disease. In the arena of probiotics, numerous fundamental questions remain unanswered.