'Dairy pro- and prebiotics can boost brain, liver and infant health'

Irish scientists working with gut bacteria – microbiota – have found 'exciting opportunities' for value-added dairy products, according to the head of biotechnology at Ireland’s largest food research center.

Professor Paul Ross at Teagasc Moorepark in Fermoy, Ireland, tells DairyReporter.com’s Fiona Barry his team has discovered original applications for dairy prebiotics and probiotics in infant and adult health.

“We’re looking at probiotics that would limit infection, increase brain cognition, improve liver health and reduce cholesterol,” Ross said. “And we’ve just patented a probiotic that will reduce cholesterol.”