Bacteria are everywhere, and in the view of many people that's a good thing.

Many medical experts believe that consuming healthy bacteria, called probiotics, improves the body's overall balance of good versus bad micro-organisms, boosting general health. But nutritionists warn that not all the probiotic-containing products found on store shelves provide the health benefits they claim.

Companies have sought to attract health-conscious consumers in recent years by putting probiotics in products as diverse as yogurt, juices, muffins and even pizza, as well as in dietary supplements. Last year, 231 new probiotic-containing products hit grocery and pharmacy shelves, up from just 34 in 2005, according to market-research firm Datamonitor PLC.

To be sure, some regular foods contain healthy bacteria, from common yogurt to naturally fermented pickles. But pasteurization has eliminated much of the flora found in modern foods. The recent boom in probiotic products reflects an effort to re-introduce bacteria believed to promote good health. Probiotics are generally considered safe to eat, but scientists say people with immune deficiencies should consult their doctor first.

Companies that sell products with added probiotics claim they offer a range of health benefits, from helping with digestion to boosting the immune system and preventing cavities. Some of the claims are based on reputable scientific study. But others are unproved, and advertising pitches are sometimes exaggerated. The quality of probiotic supplements also varies widely. As a result, consumers might have a difficult time choosing among a host of products.

Of several hundred probiotic-product lines on the market in North America, "15 to 20 have clinical studies behind them," says Gregor Reid, a professor of microbiology at the University of Western Ontario's Lawson Research Institute.

Probiotics are defined as "live micro-organisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit," according to 2002 guidelines developed by the World Health Organization and the United Nations. Exactly how this works isn't fully understood, but scientists believe that good types of bacteria have long lived in symbiosis with humans and that the positive health effects may have evolved over time.

In choosing a probiotic, consumers should look for products that list a specific strain of bacteria on their label or on a Web site. Look for three names -- in Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, for example, the final two letters identify the strain. The GG strain has been well tested scientifically and has shown health benefits. A product that simply uses the first two names may include a similar, but not identical, bacterium that doesn't have the same science behind it.

The best evidence is when the actual product -- not just the bacterium -- has been tested in humans. Such studies are sometimes posted on manufacturers' Web sites. Otherwise, consumers can do an Internet search of the specific bacterial strain to see if there is credible evidence of a product's health claims. This can take some legwork.

Say, for example, you want information on the active bacteria in Activia, a probiotic-enhanced yogurt from Dannon Co. The product label identifies the strain as Bifidus Regularis, but this is only a marketing name. The Activia Web site, under the tab "for health-care professionals," links you to summaries of scientific papers that use the scientific name, Bifidobacterium animalis DN-173 010, which has been found to hasten digestion. For additional information, you can do an Internet search of that name and many of the scientific studies on the strain pop up.

Probiotic dietary supplements also may be confusing. In a 2006 study, ConsumerLab.com, which tests nutritional products, found that just eight of 13 probiotic supplements met its quality standards. While there's no guarantee, consumers stand a better chance of getting quality products from well known, reputable manufacturers, scientists say.

Some additional tips when buying probiotic foods: Look for the word "live" on the package, since organisms killed by processing won't be helpful, says Gary B. Huffnagle, a professor at the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor. Respecting the expiration date is particularly important, because even if a product still tastes good the bacteria may no longer be alive. For maximum benefit, scientists say, try to consume a variety of different bacteria, as each may contribute something slightly different.

Here are some claims probiotic manufacturers make for their products:

Faster Digestion: Dannon's Activia yogurt and Yoplait Yo-Plus yogurt, made by General Mills Inc., contain bacteria that have been shown in scientific studies to reduce "transit time" of waste through the intestines. Slow digestion isn't necessarily bad but can cause discomfort, such as bloating or constipation.

Dannon points to four published studies testing a formulation similar to its product in humans. General Mills says a large body of scientific evidence backs up the efficacy of the bacteria in Yo-Plus. And the company says a recent study, presented at a conference of the American College of Gastroenterology, found that a dairy drink with the same active ingredients as a four-ounce container of Yo-Plus reduced transit time to 21 hours from 31 hours, compared with no change with a placebo. The study was funded by General Mills.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome: This disorder, including cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, constipation and diarrhea, can be disabling. A scientific task force, which published its findings in the American Journal of Gastroenterology this month, concluded that certain probiotic bacteria -- primarily bifidobacteria -- have shown "some efficacy" in treating the condition.

One bacterium with solid science behind it is Bifidobacterium infantis 35624, the main ingredient in Procter & Gamble Co.'s Align dietary supplement. In a 2006 published study, partially funded by P&G, a daily dose of the product was shown to relieve a wide range of symptoms better than a placebo.

Colic: When babies scream or cry with no apparent reason, it's called colic. A study of 83 infants, published last year in the journal Pediatrics found that five drops a day of a probiotic supplement from Sweden's Bio Gaia AB reduced median crying time from 197 minutes a day to 51 minutes. A control group of babies was given a liquid medication commonly used to treat colic but not widely viewed as effective; this group's crying fell to a median of 145 minutes a day.

Immune Health: Studies have long found that probiotics help regulate the immune system on a biochemical level. A small but growing number of studies are showing concrete health benefits in humans. Among them is an Israeli study that looked at Lactobacillus reuteri 55730 and Bifidobacterium lactis Bb-12. Published in 2005 in Pediatrics, the three-month study of 201 infants found that babies fed with either of the two probiotic formulas had fewer episodes of fever and diarrhea than babies fed a control formula. Of the two bacteria, L. reuteri was more effective in preventing illness, the study found.

B. lactis Bb-12 is available in Yo-Plus yogurt and Nestle SA's Good Start Natural Cultures infant formula. The L. reuteri strain is in BioGaia's dietary supplements, as well as in Nestle's Boost Kid Essentials boxed dairy drink. The bacteria are in the straw and are intended to be ingested with the juice.

Other bacteria with scientifically demonstrated immune-health properties include Lactobacillus casei DN-114 001, the bacteria in Dannon's DanActive dairy drink, and L. rhamnosus GG, in Dannon's Danimals children's drink.

Oral Health: A small number of studies have found benefits for probiotics in preventing cavities and easing gum disease.

A two-week, 42-patient study published last year found that daily chewing of gum with BioGaia's L. reuteri strains improved gum health compared with a placebo gum. The study was funded in part by BioGaia. The gum product is not available in the U.S. But the company sells lozenges that BioGaia says it believes will be as effective as the gum.

A seven-month Finnish study of 594 children, published in 2001 in the journal Caries Research, found that children who drank milk infused with L. rhamnosus GG had significantly fewer cavities than those who drank regular milk. The study received funding from Valio Ltd., a Helsinki company that supplies the bacteria to food and dietary supplement companies, including Dannon for use in Danimals.

Antibiotic-associated diarrhea: Regular yogurt has long been used to stave off this unpleasant side effect of taking antibiotics. However, supplements and foods fortified with additional probiotics may provide further relief, scientists say. So far there is good scientific evidence for several strains, including L. rhamnosus GG and Saccharomyces boulardii lyo, a yeast sold by France's Laboratoires Biocodex SA as a dietary supplement under the brand name Florastor. Dannon's DanActive drink has also been shown effective.

- Laura Johannes

NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa., May 14 /PRNewswire/ -- The Philadelphia area-based probiotics firm Kibow Biotech will be one of only three (3) Pennsylvania companies invited to present at the BIO 2009 Company Forum, http://www.convention.bio.org, in Atlanta, GA on Tuesday, May 19. BIO is the world's largest biotechnology organization, providing advocacy, business development and communications services for more than 1,200 member companies and institutions worldwide. BIO members are involved in the research and development of innovative healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology technologies.

Dr. Natarajan Ranganathan, Interim CEO and Senior VP (R&D) of Kibow Biotech, stated, "It is indeed an honor to be selected to be part of this forward-looking group of biotech leaders. I will be presenting the technology and accomplishments of Kibow Biotech, which include the recent launch of Kibow Biotics(R), a patented and proprietary probiotic formulation in support of renal health. Our veterinary formulation, for dogs and cats with moderate to severe kidney failure, has been successfully sold on the North American market for the past three years." The veterinary product is called Azodyl(TM) and is marketed by Vetoquinol - USA, Fort Worth, Texas.

Kibow Biotics was made available in the US (http://www.kibow.com) and in Canada (http://www.gelda.com) in April 2009. The product is a dietary supplement and not a drug; it is not intended to be used as a drug or as a substitute for any drug application. The Company encourages referrals from healthcare professionals, even though Kibow Biotics is a non-prescription product. Scientifically developed and clinically tested, Kibow Biotics contains three distinct strains of carefully researched and specifically selected beneficial microbes (probiotics) that possess a high affinity for various nitrogenous waste products. When the kidneys are unable to filter toxins normally, the microbes metabolize the renal waste products and use them as nutrients for growth. As the microbes grow and replicate, they create colonies capable of utilizing even more nitrogenous waste products, which are then eliminated as solid waste. The Kibow Biotics technology is based upon the use of the bowel to support the function of the kidney.

A multi-site, 6-month, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over human clinical trial is already complete with positive and promising data in Canada. Similar clinical trials will be completed soon in USA, Mexico, Argentina and Nigeria. Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval has been obtained for dose escalation studies to be carried out at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

Priced economically, Kibow Biotics is conveniently available through the company website: http://www.kibow.com.

The development of Kibow Biotics has been made possible through partial federal funding obtained in the form of two National Institutes of Health (NIH) fast-track SBIR grants from the National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Disease (NIDDK). Additional support has been provided by USAID.

For more information, visit http://www.kibow.com.

Kibow Biotics was launched on 3th April 2009.

Orders can be made online or through the phone at 1-888-271-2560

Check out the brand new website: www.kibowbiotech.com

Kibow Biotech, Inc. Launches Breakthrough Probiotic Dietary Supplement for Kidney Health in USA and Canada

NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa., April 3 /PRNewswire/ -- After more than a decade of
research and development, Kibow Biotech, Inc. announced today the launch of
Kibow Biotics(R), the Company's new patented and proprietary probiotic
formulation targeting kidney health. This product will be sold exclusively
through their online store. Maintaining healthy kidney function is a concern
for over 200 million people worldwide. Despite this need, complementary and
alternative solutions have not been readily available, until now! Based on a
patented platform technology, Kibow Biotics uses the bowel to augment kidney
function.

Kibow Biotics will be made available initially in the U.S.
(http://www.kibow.com) and in Canada (http://www.gelda.com). The product is a
dietary supplement and not a drug; it is not intended to be used as a drug or
as a substitute for any drug application. The Company encourages referrals
from healthcare professionals, even though Kibow Biotics is a non-prescription
product.

Dr. Natarajan Ranganathan, Interim CEO and Senior VP (R&D), stated, "As per
U.S. FDA and FTC regulations, we cannot refer directly or indirectly to our
product formulation with words like 'disease,' 'drug,' 'therapy,' 'prevent,'
'cure,' 'delay,' 'eliminate,' 'remove' or 'mitigate' any symptoms or
illnesses. However, in spite of the stipulations we encounter in communicating
their benefits, probiotics are increasingly well-accepted. In fact, there are
hundreds of dietary supplements available over the counter (OTC) in health
food stores and through various other distribution channels in the USA, in
Canada and in several other countries. We are delighted that Kibow Biotics
will represent new hope and significant savings for maintaining kidney health,
initially in North America and Canada and progressively in other parts of the
world."

The latest in the Kibow family of scientifically developed and clinically
tested dietary supplements, Kibow Biotics contains three distinct strains of
carefully researched and specifically selected beneficial microbes
(probiotics) that possess a high affinity for various nitrogenous waste
products. The microbes metabolize the waste products and use them as nutrients
for growth. As the microbes grow and replicate, they create colonies capable
of utilizing even more nitrogenous waste products, which are then eliminated
as solid waste.

Kibow Biotics is composed of naturally occurring beneficial probiotic strains:
S. thermophilus (KB-19), L. acidophilus (KB-27), B. longum (KB-31), combined
with a dietary fiber (psyllium husk). Presented in an enteric-coated,
gluten-free, vegetarian gel capsule, each serving of Kibow Biotics contains a
total of 30 billion colony forming units (CFU).

When taken orally after every meal (3 times) on a daily basis, Kibow Biotics
has the potential to help maintain healthy kidney function. A multi-site,
6-month, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over human clinical trial is
already complete in Canada. Similar clinical trials are still in progress in
USA, Mexico, Argentina and Nigeria. The development of Kibow Biotics has been
made possible through partial federal funding obtained in the form of two
National Institutes of Health (NIH) fast-track SBIR grants from the National
Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Disease (NIDDK). Additional
support has been provided by USAID (funded through ICICI Bank, in Mumbai,
India).

For more information, visit http://www.kibow.com