Dead Probiotic Bacteria - (Nov/19/2013 )

Dear all, 

Do you think dead probiotic bacteria will provide nutrients to our human body? 

Cheers. 

Though not a microbiologist my idea is that we also would digest dead bacteria at least partly...therefore also probiotic bacteria. To some extent surely indirectly since other bacteria will take in the nutrients before, also die and some of the nutrients finally are taken in by the intestinal mucosa.

Not sure about that hogoblin.  Nutritional contribution of (dead) bacteria in the overall context of yogurt would appear to pretty minimal.   Nonviable bacteria could still have effect - by immunological effect and indirectly substances such as bacteriocins produced in making yogurt