Potential of Synbiotic Yogurt with Prebiotics FOS and GOS from Banana and Probiotic Bacteria Bifidobacterium Lactis and Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GG as Prevention and Treatment of Acute Diarrhea in Children: A Literature Review

Diarrhea, or as Indonesians usually refer it as mencret, is defined as defecation more than three times per day along with a change in the consistency of the stool to liquid with or without mucus and blood. There exist various causes of diarrhea in Indonesia, both viral and bacterial. The main pathogen causing diarrhea in our country is Rotavirus (40-60%), followed by Escherichia coli bacteria (20-30%), and the rest is dominated by other microorganisms (10-20%). Based upon previous research, probiotics and prebiotics have been shown to have potential in preventing and treating diarrhea caused by various pathogenic microorganisms. Probiotics are supplemented live bacteria that have a beneficial response on the health of human digestive organs by improving the balance of normal gut flora, whereas prebiotics are substrates that are not to be digested by the intestines, but instead bring benefits to the health of human digestive system that selectively stimulate the growth and activity of good bacteria in the gut. Bananas apparently contain a source of prebiotics that we are rarely aware of. The probiotic content of inulin and fructooligosaccharides (FOS) in bananas plays an important role in nourishing and stimulating the growth of probiotic bacteria. Accordingly, they are also considered “colonic foods” for the natural flora of the intestine. Fermented milk products, such as yogurt, have the benefir of inhibiting gastrointestinal infections. Aside from the aforementioned benefits, yogurt also contains anticancer effects, lowers blood cholesterol levels, and stimulates the immune system. The beverage innovation called “YOPI EN NUNO”, which of this is a synbiotic banana yogurt with the addition of B. Lactis and L. rhamnosus GG bacterial starters has various advantageous potentials to prevent and treat acute diarrhea in children.