Pre- and Probiotic Use in Chronic GI Disorders in the Asia-Pacific Region

Reuben WONG

The use of pre- and probiotics to manipulate the microbiota has long been recognised even before the science behind it was fully understood. When western medicine and modern hygiene practices were introduced, there was little understanding of the use of probiotics, and indeed there was a push towards and an overuse of anti-biotics in Asia, as in much of the rest of the world.

With a renewed understanding of the importance of the human microbiome, there is a renewed interest in Asian practices to treat gut illness by tweaking the microflora. This ranged from the ingestion of faeces from healthy individuals to treat diarrheal diseases in Ancient China, a forerunner to Faecal Microbial Transplantation as we now recognise it, to the use of fermented products such as Kimchi and Tempeh to maintain gut health.

This lecture will explore practices unique in the Asian context, and if indeed there is any scientific basis and clinical efficacy to justify their use.