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Q54 (NDA-II/2017) Science & Technology › Biotechnology & Health › Human nutrition and health Answer Verified

The term ‘Probiotic’ is applied to

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: D
Explanation

The term ‘probiotic’ refers to live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host. They are essentially live microbial food supplements that improve the balance of the intestinal microbiota. Common examples include bacteria from the genera Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium [4]. These beneficial microbes reside in the digestive system, helping to break down undigested food and maintain overall gut health [2]. Unlike antibiotics, which are designed to eradicate harmful bacteria and can inadvertently deplete beneficial ones, probiotics enhance the population of 'friendly' bacteria. They are often found in fermented foods like curd and yogurt or added to products like cereal and infant formula [2]. While they can help manage conditions like acid reflux, they are distinct from antacids or organic foods, the latter of which refers to production methods without synthetic chemicals [3].

Sources

  1. [4] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5622781/
  2. [2] Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 11: Agriculture - Part II > 11.9 Organic Farming > p. 345
  3. [3] Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 3: Health: The Ultimate Treasure > Discovery of the first antibiotic, Penicillin > p. 40
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SIMILAR QUESTIONS

IAS · 2008 · Q42 Relevance score: -0.71

Consider the following statements about probiotic food: 1. Probiotic food contains live bacteria which are considered beneficial to humans. 2. Probiotic food helps in maintaining gut flora. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

CAPF · 2010 · Q29 Relevance score: -1.40

A patient suffering from a prolonged illness and on an antibiotic regime is recommended intake of probiotics in his diet. These probiotics are supplements essentially comprising :

IAS · 2022 · Q68 Relevance score: -2.55

Consider the following statements in respect of probiotics : 1. Probiotics are made of both bacteria and yeast. 2. The organisms in probiotics are found in foods we ingest but they do not naturally occur in our gut. 3. Probiotics help in the digestion of milk sugars. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

CDS-I · 2013 · Q63 Relevance score: -4.58

Consider the following statements regarding antibiotics: 1, They are used to destroy disease causing bacteria. 2. They can be applied to the skin, swallowed or injected to fight micro-organisms inside the body, 3. They are effective against disease-causing viruses. 4. The first antibiotic to be discovered was tetracycline. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

CDS-I · 2020 · Q15 Relevance score: -5.16

Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists: List-I(Compound) A) Boric acid B) Citric acid C) Magnesium D) Acetic acid List-II(Use) 1) Antiseptic 2) Food preservative 3) Antacid Hydroxide 4) Pickle