**3. Conclusion**

In summary, the present chapter reveals that gut microbiota and a correct use of probiotic may play important pleiotropic functions on several levels and

*Prebiotics and Probiotics - Potential Benefits in Nutrition and Health*

increased expression of serotonin transporter (SERT) [71–74].

functionality [74–79].

combined activity of different microbiota strain such as *Lactobacillus*. The connection was firstly seen in IBS patient who also manifests clear clinical signs of depressive disorders; the analysis of gut microbiota from these patients showed a very low level of *Lactobacillus* strains versus healthy subjects that might be explained by the

Overall the data on this specific topic all have evidenced the positive effects of probiotics in CNS health. These effects are explained by the ability of probiotics to directly interact with fundamental metabolic agents either within the gut or outside that eventually explain the Gut-CNS axis. The use of probiotics and in specific the *Lactobacillus* strains showed that mice fed with these probiotics revealed a better capacity of reabsorbing tryptophan amino acid the precursor or serotonin, the re-established normal level of those hormones strictly related to stress deviances and depression such as the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), corticosterone, adrenaline, noradrenaline and the re-increase expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) a marker that indicate a neuronal health and memory

To conclude, the higher permeability of gut or "leaky gut" intensifies the fee passage of endotoxins such as the LPS and other forms of molecules and pathogens to leak into the bloodstream and thus in the entire system. The upsurge of these endotoxins, pathogens, and waste molecules eventually trigger the activation of a cascade of immune responses through switching on the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) that mediates the recruitment of T and B lymphocytes together with a huge number of pro-inflammatory cytokines, interleukins, and IgA (**Figure 3**) [80, 81]. The current position therefore considers the use of probiotics as a therapeutic tool that

*There is a strict connection between CNS and gut system. The connection takes place through the afferent and efferent pathways of vagus nerve that physically connects both CNS and gut. Both CNS and gut may undergo leaky phenomena; in both cases, the barriers of either CNS or gut become extremely permeable under the chronic attack of both pathogens and immune agents overexpressed on the site. This event may eventually explain degenerative condition of both systems including IBS, ulcerative colitis, depression, PD, AD, and MS.*

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**Figure 3.**

systems. It is now clear that there is a bidirectional interaction between microbiota and nervous system, microbiota and immunity, microbiota and bones, and eventually microbiota and mitochondria. Probiotics are getting more and more attention due to the increase of evidence of their benefits in many degenerative disorders. It shows the capacity of microbiota to restore gut and vaginal and oral microbiota, thus attenuating various severe inflammatory responses. All these findings suggest that probiotics could play a role in clinical procedure and therapy approaches to decrease the risk of morbidity and mortality related to CNS diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and bone degenerations. The shared information presented on this chapter may also demonstrate that the traditional view on gut microbiota and microbiome has changed and may be eventually useful as a prospective medium for the delivery of superior, more precise, and personalized treatments in the achievement of better protective health benefits for a more and more aging society.

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**Author details**

Angelo Michele Inchingolo2

and Francesco Inchingolo2

Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy

Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy

University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy

provided the original work is properly cited.

Ciro Gargiulo Isacco1,2,3,4, Andrea Ballini5,6\*, Danila De Vito6

1 Human Stem Cells Research Center, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

3 Pham Chau Trinh University of Medicine, Danang, Vietnam

Kieu Cao Diem Nguyen1,2, Alessio Danilo Inchingolo2

, Stefania Cantore2

2 Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine (DIM), School of Medicine, University

4 International Institute of Gene and Immunology, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

6 Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences and Sense Organs,

5 Department of Biosciences, Biotechnology and Biopharmaceutics, University of

\*Address all correspondence to: andrea.ballini@uniba.it; andrea.ballini@me.com

© 2019 The Author(s). Licensee IntechOpen. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium,

,

, Gianna Dipalma<sup>2</sup>

,

, Gregorio Paduanelli<sup>2</sup>

*Probiotics in Health and Immunity: A First Step toward Understanding the Importance…*

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.88601*
