The aim of this research was to review the scientific publications of clinical studies on the health benefits of probiotic dairy products and to identify the most common health indications of the studied effects of probiotic dairy products, the indications for which these are the most effective and probable reasons for the divergence of results. To study the health benefits of probiotic dairy products, randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled clinical trials are most relevant. Most frequently studied probiotic strains belong to genus Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium - species Lactobacillus casei, L. paracasei, L. rhamonus, L. reuteri, L. acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum, B. lactis and B. animalis. Certain probiotic strains can reduce the risk of upper respiratory tract diseases and shorten their episodes, reduce the severity of colds and intestinal problems in healthy individuals exposed to stress, reduce the incidence and facilitate respiratory tract infections in children, reduce episodes of diarrhea and fever in infants fed with formulas. Probiotic dairy products can improve gastrointestinal discomfort in healthy adults, have antidiabetic and antioxidant properties, alleviate gastric and intestinal problems, lower plasma and LDL cholesterol and have beneficial effects on oral health. Making the final health claim may be hampered by the fact that already fermented dairy products with conventional starter cultures, without added probiotic bacteria have a positive effect on health, or that there are too few participants in the studies.
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