Probiotics - Can They Help?

[Forum Admin]

To all members,

We're opening this discussion to allow other readers to gauge the effectiveness of probiotics on the immune system. We're looking for responses from individuals who currently include probiotics in their dietary regiment.

Probiotics are dietary supplements containing potentially beneficial bacteria or yeasts. According to the currently adopted definition probiotics are: "Live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host". Probiotic bacterial cultures are intended to assist the body's naturally occurring gut flora, an ecology of microbes, to re-establish themselves. They are sometimes recommended by doctors and, more frequently, by nutritionists, after a course of antibiotics, or as part of the treatment for gut related candidiasis. Claims are made that probiotics strengthen the immune system to combat allergies, excessive alcohol intake, stress, exposure to toxic substances, and other diseases.

Managing Lactose Intolerance
As lactic acid bacteria actively convert lactose into lactic acid, ingestion of certain active strains may help lactose intolerant individuals tolerate more lactose than what they would have otherwise. In practice probiotics are not specifically targeted for this purpose, as most are relatively low in lactase activity as compared to the normal yogurt bacteria.

Prevention of Colon Cancer
In laboratory investigations, some strains of LAB have demonstrated anti-mutagenic effects thought to be due to their ability to bind with heterocyclic amines, which are carcinogenic substances formed in cooked meat. Animal studies have demonstrated that some LAB can protect against colon cancer in rodents, though human data is limited and conflicting.

Most human trials have found that the strains tested may exert anti-carcinogenic effects by decreasing the activity of an enzyme called ?-glucuronidase (which can generate carcinogens in the digestive system). Lower rates of colon cancer among higher consumers of fermented dairy products have been observed in some population studies.

Improving Immune Function and Preventing Infections
LAB are thought to have several presumably beneficial effects on immune function. They may protect against pathogens by means of competitive inhibition (i.e., by competing for growth) and there is evidence to suggest that they may improve immune function by increasing the number of IgA-producing plasma cells, increasing or improving phagocytosis as well as increasing the proportion of T lymphocytes and Natural Killer cells.

Clinical trials have demonstrated that probiotics may decrease the incidence of respiratory tract infections and dental caries in children. LAB foods and supplements have been shown to be effective in the treatment and prevention of acute diarrhea, and in decreasing the severity and duration of rotavirus infections in children and travelers' diarrhea in adults.

Helicobacter pylori
LAB are also thought to aid in the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infections (which cause peptic ulcers) in adults when used in combination with standard medical treatments.

Antibiotic-associated diarrhea
A meta-analysis suggested probiotics may reduce antibiotic-associated diarrhea. A subsequent randomized controlled trial also found benefit in elderly patients.

In a randomized clinical trial, published in 2007, a University of Montreal team of pharmacologists demonstrated that lactobacilli-fermented solution can be effective in AAD prevention in hospitalized patients.

Reducing Inflammation
LAB foods and supplements have been found to modulate inflammatory and hypersensitivity responses, an observation thought to be at least in part due to the regulation of cytokine function. Clinical studies suggest that they can prevent re-occurrences of inflammatory bowel disease in adults,as well as improve milk allergies and decrease the risk of atopic eczema in children.

Prevents Harmful Bacterial Growth Under Stress
In a study done to see the effects of stress on intestinal flora, rats that were fed probiotics had little occurrence of harmful bacteria latched onto their intestines compared to rats that were fed sterile water.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Colitis
B. infantis 35624, was found to improve some symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome in women in a recent study. Another probiotic bacterium, Lactobacillus plantarum 299V, was also found to be effective in reducing IBS symptoms. Additionally, a probiotic formulation, VSL3, was found to be effective in treating ulcerative colitis.

[bellewis]

My husband AND my 11 year old son both have Crohn's Disease. After my husbands bowel resection in 2001, he has taken nothing BUT probiotics and is doing pretty well! My son has not responded yet to probiotics, he was only very recently diagnosed, so I am giving it some time.

[lhopp426]

what type of probiotics are you using? curious

[Simony]

I am on probiotic (acidophilus) for years now and taking AMP. Since my last order I received a free Serolife probiotic product; I like it just as much as the one I took before, and feel that it is more complete. :geek:

[lhopp426]

does anyone know if taking higher amounts of bacteria (ie; 10 billion, 20 bil, etc) can benefit you?

[bellewis]

I buy Garden of Life's Primal Defense for probiotics. I swear buy them. I have been decreasing my sons dosage of pentassa slowly. I give him probiotics, serovera and enteric coated fish oil. It has taken a couple of months but he is responding and he is not hurting ( for now, I keep praying! ) :)

[trevex]

On the topic of probiotics, I came across this, this morning... how many millions of Americans consume Splenda daily? They'll need to take a probiotic to combat the loss of good bacteria (50%!) if this is true.

James Turner, the chairman of the national consumer education group Citizens for Health, has expressed shock and outrage after reading a new report from scientists outlining the dangers of the artificial sweetener Splenda (sucralose).

In animals examined for the study, Splenda reduced the amount of good bacteria in the intestines by 50 percent, increased the pH level in the intestines, contributed to increases in body weight and affected P-glycoprotein (P-gp) levels in such a way that crucial health-related drugs could be rejected.

The P-gp effect could result in medications used in chemotherapy, AIDS treatment and treatments for heart conditions being shunted back into the intestines, rather than being absorbed by the body.

According to Turner, "The report makes it clear that the artificial sweetener Splenda and its key component sucralose pose a threat to the people who consume the product. Hundreds of consumers have complained to us about side effects from using Splenda and this study ... confirms that the chemicals in the little yellow package should carry a big red warning label."