Si evidentemente , parte del mecanismo de sus efectos terapéuticos, es la modificación de la flora.
Pero, los datos actuales, ya no consideran o algo inofensivo o sin claridad los efectos de la modificación de la flora por patógenos.
Como profesionales o estudiantes o científicos que somos, debemos siempre ir a los trabajos de investigación, que demuestren hechos.
Y si ahora se ve que la colonización por ciertos patógenos, o el aumento de la cantidad de ciertos microorganismos en el tracto intestinal es causa o factor de algunas enfermedades, es un excelente dato, que hay que profundizar en mas investigaciones (independientemente del negocio que es el actimel para sus productores)
Concretamente, si el Helicobacter pylori es "desaparecido" por el consumo de lactobacilos, y como bien hoy se sabe, que el Helicobacter está asociado al cáncer gástrico, no es un tema menor el poder terapético de los probioticos (algo que, extrañamente, no es usado como dato en la publicidad del producto...)
Otro abstact del beneficio de los probióticos en tratamiento del cáncer de colon
Probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics: a role in chemoprevention for colorectal cancer? Geier MS,
Butler RN,
Howarth GS.
Centre for Paediatric and Adolescent Gastroenterology, Children, Youth and Women's Health Service, North Adelaide, South Australia.
mark.geier@adelaide.edu.au
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common form of cancer. Current treatments including chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery are all associated with a high risk of complications and are not always successful, highlighting the need to develop new treatment strategies. The ingestion of probiotics, prebiotics or combinations of both (synbiotics) represents a novel new therapeutic option. Probiotics and prebiotics act to alter the intestinal microflora by increasing concentrations of beneficial bacteria such as lactobacillus and bifidobacteria, and reducing the levels of pathogenic
micro-organisms. This strategy has the potential to inhibit the development and progression of neoplasia via mechanisms including; decreased intestinal inflammation, enhanced immune function and anti-tumorigenic activity, binding to potential food carcinogens including toxins found in meat products, and a reduction in bacterial enzymes which hydrolyse precarcinogenic compounds, such as beta-glucuronidase.
There is substantial experimental evidence to suggest that probiotics and prebiotics may be beneficial in the prevention and treatment of colon cancer, however to date there have been few conclusive human trials. Probiotics and prebiotics have the potential to impact significantly on the development, progression and treatment of colorectal cancer and may have a valuable role in cancer prevention.
PMID: 16969130 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]