L. reuteri naturally occurs in the gut of many mammals and is be found in human breast milk.

Increasing the intake of this bacterium may help alleviate symptoms of a wide range of gut disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, functional bowel disorders, and constipation.

"Scientifically and evidence-based approaches to nutrition to correct potential bacterial imbalance in the intestine and thereby promote better health and possibly restore health in diseases associated with these imbalances," said Wolfgang Kunze of St. Joseph's Healthcare in Ontario, Canada.

Kunze and his colleagues introduced L. reuteri into isolated pieces of small intestine taken from healthy and previously untreated mice.

The bacterium was then added to a warm salt solution flowing through the intestine.

The pressure caused by natural contractions was measured before, during, and after the addition of L. reuteri.

Relaxation of smooth muscle tissue was compared with the action of the bacterium.

Researchers also tested the electrical activity of single intestinal sensory nerve cells.

"It might not be possible for most of us to get breast milk from the tap, but we can still benefit from some of the life-supporting substances it carries." said Dr Gerald Weissmann, editor-in-chief of the FASEB Journal, the peer-reviewed publishers of the research.

"This research shows that the relationship between humans and microbes can be beneficial for both."

"The Lactobacillus finds a new home, and we're no longer up tight."

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