Good Things to Know About Good Flora

Monday, February 7, 2011

By Karen Brothers, ND student, NCNM

Probiotics are receiving lots of attention in health-related research and in the food and supplement industries. You’ve likely read about them in the news or even heard about them in television commercials for yogurt or digestive health supplements. So why all of the buzz about probiotics?

According to the World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, probiotics are “live microorganisms, which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host.” It is estimated the human digestive tract contains 400 different types of probiotic microorganisms (also known as gut flora), most of which are bacteria from either the Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium groups, while others are yeast such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae. But what health benefits are we talking about here?

Probiotics inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria, promote good digestion, and increase our bodies’ ability to resist infection. Research has provided favorable results for the use of probiotics in the treatment of specific conditions, including diarrhea (even when caused by antibiotics), infections of the urinary tract and female genital tract, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis), bladder cancer, atopic dermatitis, tooth decay and periodontal disease, and infections with Helicobacter pylori (the bacteria associated with most ulcers and chronic inflammation of the stomach). Probiotics may also reduce the symptoms associated with lactose intolerance, hay fever, food allergies, and colic.

With so many potential benefits, you’re probably ready to add probiotics to your current supplement regimen (if you haven’t already). But before you make your purchase, consider these points:

Determine your health needs. Some varieties (known as strains) work better for certain conditions than for others. For example, Lactobacillus reuteri works well for intestinal or respiratory infections in infants, while Bifidobacterium infantis has been shown to be effective against irritable bowel syndrome.
Read the research. The volume of scientific research on probiotics is growing and much is readily available online through trusted sources such as PubMed or the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Even online searches of news articles about probiotics can point to you to research studies. Such research can provide insight as to which probiotic strain or combination of strains will be most effective for your health needs.
Read the labels. The label of your probiotic supplement should list the strains, the number of live microorganisms, and the expiration date. It should also indicate if refrigeration is required to maintain the potency.
Prebiotics. Prebiotics are indigestible food ingredients that support the growth and activity of gut flora. Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) are common prebiotics. Some supplements combine prebiotics with probiotics to help establish the probiotics in the digestive tract; however, for some people, prebiotics can cause digestive upset.
Consider the packaging. The packaging should protect the probiotics from environmental factors such as light, heat, moisture, and oxygen. Dark glass bottles, rubber caps under the bottle’s screw top, and individually packaged servings in foil sachets are good protective options.
Review the manufacturer’s quality control measures. This a given for all supplements you buy. For more on this topic, see an earlier blog entry: Choosing Supplements – Supplement Quality.

With this information in mind, you can make a well-informed decision about your use of probiotic supplementation.

References

Agin, Katie. “Probiotics: Linking Gut Health to Whole-Body Care.” Whole Foods Magazine, http://www.wholefoodsmagazineonline.com/supplements/features/probiotics-linking-gut-health-whole-body-care-0.
The Environmental Illness Resource. “Probiotics and Prebiotics.”
http://www.ei-resource.org/treatment-options/treatment-information/probiotics-and-prebiotics/
Medical News Today. “Gastroenterologist Offers Tips For Choosing a Probiotic.”
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/114571.php.
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. “An Introduction to Probiotics.” http://nccam.nih.gov/health/probiotics/introduction.htm.
Vitasearch Vitamin Guide. “Probiotics.” http://www.healthnotes.info/qs_db/healthnotes.cfm?contentid=2901004.
WebMD. Digestive Disorders Health Center, “Probiotics – Topic Overview.”
http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/tc/probiotics-topic-overview?print=true#

posted by Innate Response at

1:01 PM

Good Things to Know About Good Flora

By Karen Brothers, ND student, NCNM

Probiotics are receiving lots of attention in health-related research and in the food and supplement industries. You’ve likely read about them in the news or even heard about them in television commercials for yogurt or digestive health supplements. So why all of the buzz about probiotics?

References

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