Composition
The complex ecosystem of bacteria in the intestinal tract, while relatively constant, is always subject to change. The types and number of bacteria are influenced by several factors, including stress,
(Virkha et al., 1999;
Holdeman et al., 1976)
antibiotics,
(Bourlioux et al., 2003)
aging
(Minelli et al., 1993)
and diet
(Fernandez F et al., 1985;
Roberfroid, 1996;
Bourlioux et al., 2003). Research suggests that when the intestinal microflora is unbalanced, overall health may be affected.
There are over 400 types of bacteria found in the gastrointestinal tract. With a total of about 1014
bacterial cells, there are about ten times the number of bacterial cells in the intestinal tract as there are cells in the body. Most of these bacteria are not pathogenic; some are necessary for normal growth and development, while the function of others remains unknown.
Introduction
Composition
