Probiotic alternative to pain killer

Researchers from Inserm (French National Institute of Health and Medical Research) and Danisco have demonstrated that the oral administration of Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM mediates analgesic functions in the gut equivalent to morphine effects. These results, patented by Danisco, suggest that the microbiology of the intestinal tract influences visceral pain perception and opens new perspectives in the treatment of abdominal pain and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) with this probiotic strain.

Marketed under the name Howaru Dophilus, Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM has gut health benefits as well as its long-term stability. Danisco plans to develop Howaru Dophilus in new commercial applications with selected partners from the pharmaceutical, dietary supplement and food industries.

In addition to its ability to survive passage through the gastrointestinal tract and its adherence to intestinal mucosa, Howaru Dophilus has a fully sequenced annoted genome.