5. Conclusion
With the current interest in the possible health promoting effects of
microorganisms, opportunities exist for the incorporation of LAB as probiotic
culture into fermented meat products including Nham. Based on
the current regulation, the documentation for substantiation of health
claims for probiotics is challenging. Accurate data on the healthpromoting
activities of probiotic bacteria in vivo both animal and
human intervention trials would greatly aid the development of a
completely new generation of fermented functional foods tailored to
contain clinically-proven health-promoting microorganisms and/or nutrients.
Future prospects to exploit the potential health-promoting
properties of such foods will continue to expand as we gain a greater
understanding of the microorganisms concerned and how they, or
their metabolites, can directly interact in a positive way with the
human host.