The Effects of Probiotics on the Aging Digestive Tract to be Presented at Nutracon 2009

- Dr. Tommy Tomizawa of UCLA Medical Center will present latest research and evidence that probiotics may be beneficial to the elderly -

TORRANCE, Calif., Feb. 13 /PRNewswire/ — With the worldwide elderly population expected to climb over 300% in the next 50 years, healthy aging is paramount and probiotics may be the key to maintaining good health. During the 2009 Nutra Conference (Nutracon), Dr. Tommy Tomizawa, Assistant Professor at the David Geffen Medical Center of University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) and attending physician at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, will present research findings on probiotics and the aging digestive system. Nutracon is an annual event for ingredient and technology innovation in the health and nutrition industry.

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    The presentation is scheduled as follows:
    "Probiotics and the Aging Digestive Tract"
    Presented by Tommy H. Tomizawa, M.D., M.P.H.
    March 4, 2009 - Nutracon
    11:15 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
    Anaheim Hilton, Laguna Room
    Anaheim, CA

Probiotics use in healthcare is consistent with preventive medicine – maintaining optimal health to avoid illness and disease. Key points of the presentation will include the ability of probiotics to improve immune response, decrease the incidence of geriatric constipation and help in the prevention of certain types of malignant cancers. Ninety percent of colon cancer cases occur in people over 50 years of age and this type of cancer may be circumvented by regular probiotic use.

“What is astonishing about these research results is that they indicate probiotics may have the ability to alter the body’s aging processes in a favorable way,” says Dr. Tomizawa. “However, the current science is not conclusive.”

The presentation is made possible by The Yakult Company. The goal of Nutracon is to help develop science-supported products in the supplements, functional foods and beverages, and nutricosmetics sectors. More information about the conference, including registration can be found at www.nutraconference.com.

The Yakult Company is the world’s pioneer of probiotics and produces one of the leading probiotic dairy beverages, Yakult. The petite probiotic drink was developed in 1935 in Japan by microbiologist Dr. Minoru Shirota, who was dedicated to the concept of preventive medicine. Scientists all over the world continue to confirm and expand knowledge regarding the benefits of probiotics, Yakult and its exclusive strain Lactobacillus casei Shirota. Yakult U.S.A. Inc. is the North American subsidiary of the company’s business and is based in Torrance, CA. For more information, please visit www.yakultusa.com.

SOURCE Yakult U.S.A Inc.