Probiotics hold promise for management of neurodegenerative diseases, says expert-OxBig News Network

Nutrition expert and former Director of National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) B. Sesikeran on Friday said that new studies have shown that probiotics had an important role to play in the management of neurodegenerative diseases like autism, parkinsons syndrome, and senile dementia.

Delivering the keynote address on ‘Microbes for good health – The paradox of healthy living’ at a ‘Networking Meet on Probiotics, Postbiotics, and Fermented Food-based Startups and Enterprises’ at Central Food Research and Training Institute (CFTRI) in Mysuru, Dr. Sesikeran said the gut bacteria, which had an active metabolic function in the human body, also produce neuro transmitters that communicate within the brain and from the brain to the rest of the body.

“In that sense, the intestine also communicates with the food and other components that enter the gut, and through them it sends signals to the brain. This may also be associated with signals like appetite and other things related to consuming food,” he said.

While modern medicine does not have a “definitive answer” to neurodegenerative diseases like autism, parkinsons’ syndrome, and senile dementia, there is a lot of promise that probiotics and their products called postbiotics have an important role to play in the management of these painful diseases among the aging population, he said.

During his address, Dr. Sesikeran pointed out that Ayurvedic science had always stressed that a person’s digestion was important to keep one healthy, while the Greek physician and philosopher Hippocrates in 460 BC had said that all diseases and death originated from the gut. He pointed out that the ‘trillions’ of bacteria in the gut not only kept the intestine healthy, but also the entire functions of the body.

Even though a lot of infectious diseases are caused by bacteria, paradoxically it is bacteria that is used to fight the diseases. The bacteria, which is now used to control the diseases, may well replace anti-biotics in the near future, he said.

Earlier, Prakash Halami, the chief scientist and head of the Microbiology and Fermentation Technology Department, CFTRI, Mysuru, said the food market was one of the most important segments of the world economy, and there is a growing realisation of the need for a healthier lifestyle upon consumption of functional foods.

“Hence, food products with positive health benefits with balance nutrients are credited with reduced risk of metabolic diseases. Parallelly, there is growing awareness about gut health, which plays a crucial role in a healthy microbiome. The food product, which promotes digestive health, provides immune support added with nutritional enhancement, and occupies an important place in functional food development”, he said.

He said the functional food market was valued at around $378.7 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $689.4 billion by 2030, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.5% during the estimated period. Among the functional foods, the probiotic market is projected to grow from $71.2 billion in 2024 to $105.7 billion by 2029, reflecting a CAGR of 8.2% during the period.

CFTRI Director Sridevi Annapurna Singh presided over the function.