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Health Benefits of Supplementing Probiotics

Probiotics are essential for optimal digestion of food and absorption of nutrients, and to help your body produce vitamins, absorb minerals and aid in the elimination of toxins - Green Med Info lists over 200 studies linking the lack of probiotics to more than 170 different diseases and health problems.

Some health problems for which probiotic supplementation has shown promising results
•Celiac disease, leaky gut, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)	•Mood, psychological health, and behavior
•Insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome,and diabetes	•Liver diseases, such as cirrhosis and cancer
•Epstein-Barr virus	•Chronic fatigue syndrome
•High cholesterol / hypertension	•Skin problems E.g. Acne
•Eczema and atopic dermatitis	•Common cold, influenza, and pneumonia
•Herpes	•Food/wheat allergies
•Diarrhea, Travelers diarrhea	•Allergic rhinitis
•Baby's health and on through life	•Cancer / Autoimmune problems
•Halitosis	•Vaginal infections

Study proven health benefits of probiotics

A few specific uses for probiotics:

Adjuvant therapy (with antibiotic regimens against H. Pylori) for increasing eradication rate of H. Pylori. So suggests a recent meta-analysis of 14 randomized trials;
Treatment for depression literally by improving your gut feeling! More SEROTONIN is produced in the intestines than in the brain.
Fight cancer and autoimmune diseases. Population studies have shown that there is a strong relationship between diet, microflora and certain cancers, particularly colon cancer.

• Studies have shown that the microflora of cancer patients consists mainly of harmful bacteria such as Clostridia. These bacteria form harmful compounds that are thought to be carcinogenic. Some experts believe that these lactic acid bacteria, together with others such as the Bacteroides(the most predominant in the digestive tract), play an important role in the prevention of bowel problems such as IBS. Evidence suggests the possibility of a causal relationship between unbalanced intestinal microflora and some auto-immune diseases;

• American research recently showed that bits of probiotic cell walls kill cancer cells in vitro

Reduce recurring vaginal infections. These include candida (as shown in a study comparing women who ate yogurt containing live bacteria with those who ate pasteurized (sterile) yogurt - the group eating live bacteria yogurt had significantly fewer vaginal infections than the pasteurized group. (Archives of Family Medicine, Nov-Dec 1996).

• Probiotics prevent the overgrowth of yeast and fungus. by establishing large, healthy populations of friendly bacteria that compete with the Candida that is trying to take up residence in the intestine. Probiotics are essential in the treatment and prevention of thrush and vaginal yeast infections (and also athlete's foot).

Recolonize the intestine after antibiotic therapy
Prevent bad breath and bloating. By producing enzymes that help digest food;
IBS

• Maintaining remission of ulcerative colitis. E. coli Nissle strain may be equivalent to mesalazine.

• Pouchitis. Good evidence for the usefulness of probiotics in preventing an initial attack of pouchitis (VSL#3), and in preventing further relapse of pouchitis after the induction of remission with antibiotics.

Study proven health benefits of probiotics

Some probiotic descriptions and study-proven benefits

GIT = Gastro-Intestinal Tract; IBS = Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Probiotic:

Type

Where in body

Study proven health benefits

Bifidbacterium infantis

Anaerobic

Gram +

Branched Rod-shaped

Produces lactic acid from lactose or other sugars

Non-motile

Non-spore-forming

GIT of infants

GIT

Vagina

Technically called Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis. Among first to inhabit sterile newborn GIT, predominating in breast-fed infants. Different microflora in formula-fed infants may contribute to their higher risk of diarrhea and allergies

Important inhabitant in body -inhibits pathogenic GIT bacterial growth (ferments sugars into lactic acid), boosts immune system, aids basic digestion/metabolism/well-being ;

B. infantis 35624 (Bifantis)benefits IBS symptoms (E.g. bloating, gas, diarrhea, constipation, urgency, abdominal discomfort) (Study by manufacturer. Website: www.aligngi.com).

Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. Lactis

Colon

Attenuates onset of inflammation in murine colitis.

B. animalis DN-173 010(Bifidus regularis)-benefits GI symptoms

Bifidobacterium bifidum

GIT

Vagina

Bifidobacterium bifidum 17 partially protected mice from chemically induced inflammatory bowel disease.

Effective treatment I diarrhea (with L. Acidophilus)

Bifidobacterium longum

GIT

Vagina

Technically called Bifidobacterium longum subsp. Longum;

Described a s one of most important types of probiotic in the human body;

Found to reduce inflammation and IBS symptoms; may reduce risk of colon cancer;

B. longum seems to protect mice from potentially deadly E. coli O157: H7 infection

Lactobacilllus rhamnosus

Produces lactic acid from lactose or other sugars

Gram +

Non-spore-forming

Facultative anaerobic

(adapt to produce energy with or without oxygen)

GIT

Inhibits growth of most intestinal pathogenic bacteria (releases acids, bacteriocins, H2O2);

Protects urogenital tract (excretes biosurfactants to inhibit adhesion of vaginal/urinary pathogens)

Natural preservative in yogurt/other dairy products

L. rhamnosus GG shown toreduce risk of respiratory tract infections and prevent rotavirus diarrhea in children and prevent other types of diarrhea in adults and children. Patent claims stability in stomach/bile acids.

L. rhamnosus GG has shown potential in treatment/prevention of atopic dermatitis.

LACTOBACILLUS

ACIDOPHULUS

GIT

Mouth,

Vagina

Acid conditions help control yeast infections;

Produces amylase enzyme (digests carbohydrates)

Blend including L. Acidophilus decreased incidence of pediatric diarrhea;

Significantly decreased toxic amines in blood of dialysis patients w/small intestinal bacterial overgrowth

At an adequate dose may overcome lactose intolerance issues;

Supplementation to cattle reduced Escherichia coli 0157:H7 by 61%;

May help reduce blood cholesterol levels

LACTOBACILLUS bulgaricus

Converts only lactose into lactic acid (yogurt's tart flavor/preservative) and produces acetaldehyde (yogurt's aroma);Helpful for lactose intolerance;

With L casei, L bulgaricus, and S thermophilus reduced incidence of antibiotic- /C. Difficile- associated diarrhea

LACTOBACILLUS CASEI

GIT

Mouth

LAP

Wide pH/temp range; complements L. Acidophilus;

L. casei DN-114001, and L. casei Shirota extensively studied and widely available; regulates bowel function, helps fight GI infections;

LACTOBACILLUS

PLANTARUM

Saliva

GIT

Ferments sugars to lactic acid;

Used to reduce allergies from soy flour;

Produce antimicrobial (G+ and G-) substances to aid survival in GIT;

Aerotolerant species

Streptococcus

thermophilus

NOT A PROBIOTIC - since it does not survive stomach acid;

Note: Not all streptococci are pathogenic

E.g. Used to produce swiss cheese and yogurt (as a mandatory ingredient).

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