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The International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics consensus statement on the scope and appropriate use of the term probiotic
Colin Hill, Francisco Guarner, Gregor Reid, Glenn R.Gibson, Daniel J.Merenstein, Bruno Pot, LorenzoMorelli, Roberto Berni Canani, Harry J.Flint, Seppo Salminen, Philip C.Calder andMaryEllenSanders
Abstract | An expert panel was convened in October 2013 by the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) to discuss the field of probiotics. It is now 13years since the definition ofprobiotics and 12years after guidelines were published for regulators, scientists and industry by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the WHO (FAO/WHO). The FAO/WHO definition ofa probioticlive microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefiton thehostwas reinforced as relevant and sufficiently accommodating for current and anticipated applications. However, inconsistencies between the FAO/WHO Expert Consultation Report and the FAO/WHO Guidelines were clarified to take into account advances in science and applications. A more precise use of theterm probiotic will be useful to guide clinicians and consumers in differentiating the diverse products onthe market. This document represents the conclusions of the ISAPP consensus meeting on the appropriate use and scope of the term probiotic.
Hill, C. etal. Nat. Rev. Gastroenterol. Hepatol. 11, 506514 (2014); published online 10 June 2014; http://www.nature.com/doifinder/10.1038/nrgastro.2014.66
Web End =doi:10.1038/nrgastro.2014.66
Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, Ireland (C.H.). University Hospital Vall dHebron, CIBERehd, Spain (F.G.). University of Western Ontario, Canada (G.R.). University of Reading, UK (G.R.G.). Georgetown University Medical Centre, USA (D.J.M.). Institut Pasteur de Lille, France (B.P.). Universit Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Italy (L.M.). University of Naples Federico II, Italy (R.B.C.). University of Aberdeen, UK (H.J.F.). University of Turku, Finland (S.S.). University of Southampton, UK (P.C.C.). International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics, 7119 S.Glencoe Court, Centennial, CO80122, USA (M.E.S.).
Correspondence to: M.E.S. mailto:[email protected]
Web End [email protected]
Introduction
In 2001, an Expert Consultation of international scientists working on behalf of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the WHO debated the emerging field of probiotics. One output was a reworking of the definition of probiotics to the following: live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benet on the host.1
Since then, this definition has become the most widely...