Since ancient times, food has been considered essential and indispensable to human life.
Numerous studies clearly show that an individual's quality of life is linked to daily diet and
lifestyle (Moura, 2005). Interest in the role of probiotics for human health began as early as
1908 when Metchnikoff associated the intake of fermented milk with prolonged life (Lourens-
Hattingh and Vilijoen, 2001b). However, the relationship between intestinal microbiota and
good health and nutrition has only recently been investigated. Therefore, it was not until the …