Probiotics symposium focuses on children's health

11/10/05 Leading pediatricians are learning that "good" bacteria, or probiotics, can have an effect on different gastrointestinal disorders, including diarrhea and bacterial infections and help the balance of bacteria in the digestive tract of pediatric patients.

A symposium, Probiotics and Intestinal Health in Children, led by Harvard Medical School, Division of Nutrition was the first program to highlight probiotics as cutting-edge science in children's health and well-being.

Dr. Allan Walker, Professor of Nutrition and Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School led a world-class panel of speakers comprised of esteemed researchers in the fields of pediatrics and pediatric gastroenterology, including Athos Bousvaros, M.D., M.P.H (Boston Children's Hospital), Jonathan Markowitz, M.D (Children's Hospital of Philadelphia), Cornelius Van Niel, M.D (University of Washington, School of Medicine), and Balfour Sartor, M.D. (University of North Carolina School of Medicine).

The science supporting probiotics use shows that the addition of certain types of bacteria to our diets can have beneficial effects on microbial activities in the body. There are more than 400 types of bacteria found in the gastrointestinal tract, most of which are not harmful. In fact, under normal circumstances, the "good" bacteria far outnumber the "bad." Any shift in the balance of the two types, however, may affect how well the gastrointestinal tract functions.

Probiotics are used worldwide and their health benefits have been noted for some time. "The concept of adding 'good' bacteria into the diet to promote healthy digestive and immune systems is gaining recognition in the Unites States. Clinical research is quickly accumulating to support the anecdotal evidence of the benefits of probiotic therapy," said Allan Walker, M.D. As investigations continue, the potential functions of these microorganisms may extend far beyond what was originally conceptualized.

The program was made possible by an unrestricted educational grant provided by The Dannon Company, Inc. and Yakult Honsha Co., Ltd.

A Webcast of the symposium will be made available in the upcoming weeks. To view the symposium, visit the Harvard Medical School, Division of Nutrition Website at http://www.hms.harvard.edu/nutrition.

Dannon and Yakult Continue to Advocate and Lead Probiotic Research and Education

Active cultures have been used for centuries to help promote healthy functioning of the body because of their benefits. New food products are on the horizon that provide these good bacteria. For example, Dannon and Yakult Honsha are leading companies researching probiotics with academic approaches and providing various products worldwide. Dannon produces DanActive(TM), a cultured probiotic dairy drink that has been clinically proven to help strengthen the body's defense system. Additionally, Yakult Honsha has been introducing the benefits of probiotics worldwide with their original dairy drink product, Yakult® for over 70 years.

In March 2004, Yakult Honsha Co., Ltd. and Groupe Danone, the parent company of Dannon, jointly established the Global Probiotics Council to communicate the latest knowledge and discoveries and to raise awareness and understanding of probiotics.

The Dannon Company, Inc., is a pioneering and leading producer of yogurt products in the United States. Headquartered in White Plains, NY, Dannon has plants in Minster, OH, Fort Worth, TX, and West Jordan, UT. The company produces and sells approximately 100 different types of flavors, styles and sizes of yogurt products. Dannon is owned by Groupe Danone, one of the world's leading producers of packaged foods and beverages, and Dannon is the top- selling brand of yogurt products worldwide, sold under the names Dannon and Danone. With a strong commitment to high-quality, wholesome, nutritious and innovative products, The Dannon Company is committed to encouraging healthy eating and living and strives to innovate with one goal in mind: to create foods for families and individuals with their health and enjoyment in mind.

Yakult Honsha Co., Ltd., headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is the pioneer on probiotics with its probiotics highly concentrated single shot type dairy product "Yakult" and others since 1935. At the Yakult Central Institute for Microbiological Research (Japan), around 250 researchers are committed on research of the use of intestinal bacteria as factor in human health, conducting a wide range of studies on the benefits of microorganisms. Developing the overseas network from 1964, Yakult has expanded its business from East Asia to Southeast Asia, Central and South America, Oceania, Europe and China, currently available in 26 countries and territories. The subsidiary in the US is located in Los Angeles and New York, conducting market research together with importing the core product Yakult from Yakult Mexico. Yakult USA conducts sales activities mainly with Asian supermarkets throughout the states and Hispanic supermarkets in California. Yakult Honsha Co., Ltd. is also globally recognized in the pharmaceutical field with its development of Campto Injection (CPT-11), the first-line drug for colorectal cancer in the US.

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