“Yogurt with live culture can contribute to gut health” is one is one of the 10 evidence-based conclusions made by the YINI board about the health effects of yogurt… learn more below.
Yogurt may help to protect the intestinal barrier
Animal studies have suggested that a peptide found in yogurt, β-casein (94-123), increases the production of mucin, an essential component of the mucus layer that lines and protects the intestine.
Yogurt may protect against gastro-intestinal disease
Research suggests that yogurt might play a role in the treatment and prevention of gastrointestinal disorders.
- For children with mild to moderate persistent diarrhoea, a yogurt-based diet may be recommended as it has been shown to reduce stool output and the duration of diarrhoea.
- Modulation of the gut microbiota by yogurt, particularly yogurt containing Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, might be of value in the treatment or prevention of gastrointestinal diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome, infectious diarrhoea and allergy gastroenteritis. However, any potential benefits have yet to be proven.
- Yogurt may be used in the nutritional management of acute gastroenteritis in children, but data on this approach are limited and large randomised controlled trials are needed to provide evidence to support it.
References:
Plaisancié P, Claustre J, Estienne M, et al. A novel bioactive peptide from yoghurts modulates expression of the gel-forming MUC2 mucin as well as population of goblet cells and Paneth cells along the small intestine. J Nutr Biochem 2013;24:213–21.
Plaisancié P, Boutrou R, Estienne M, et al. β-Casein(94–123)-derived peptides differently modulate production of mucins in intestinal goblet cells. J Dairy Res 2015;82:36–46.
de Mattos AP, Ribeiro TC, Mendes PS, et al. Comparison of yogurt, soybean, casein, and amino acid-based diets in children with persistent diarrhea. Nutr Res 2009;29:462–9.
Goulet O. Potential role of the intestinal microbiota in programming health and disease. Nutr Rev 2015;73(Suppl 1): 32–40.
Patro-Gołąb B, Shamir R, Szajewska H. Yogurt for treating acute gastroenteritis in children: systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Nutr 2015a;34:818–24.
