What You Need to Know About Probiotics

The gut flora of the human body is incredibly varied, with an estimated total of 100 quadrillion microorganisms from up to 1,000 separate species. Despite the great amount of creatures inhabiting the Earth and the many varieties of them, the ecosystem remains in equilibrium. We have progressed together with these minute organisms; we give them a habitat to reside in and nourishment to consume and in return, they assist with our wellbeing. These microorganisms generate specific vitamins and small chain fatty acids, hamper the expansion of harmful bacteria, shape the immune system, and upgrade our health in ways that analysts are first starting to research.

The microbiome refers to the totality of microorganisms, their associated genetic information, and the habitat or environment in which they reside (e.g., the digestive tract).

The microorganisms that live in a particular habitat, like the gut, are referred to as microbiota.

An organism that is microscopic in size, including bacteria, viruses, or yeast, is referred to as a microorganism.

Microbe: another term for a microorganisma

Disorder of the microbiota: the alteration of the makeup and/or variety of the microbial community.

A medication that prevents the development of or eliminates microscopic organisms.

Live microbes (generally bacteria) consumed with the goal of boosting wellness is referred to as “Probiotic”.

A prebiotic is an element found in certain foods that humans cannot digest, but which is beneficial nourishment for the beneficial bacteria present in the intestines.

Postbiotic: metabolic by-product of probiotics

What are probiotics?

Probiotics are living microorganisms that, when taken in appropriate amounts, can provide a health benefit to the person consuming them.

Let’s break down each part of this definition:

Live microorganisms: This refers to the strain or strains of beneficial bacteria that must be alive when consumed.
Adequate amounts: Each probiotic must be associated with an effective dosage , and this dosage is arrived at through clinical study or studies. The measurement you are probably most familiar with reading on a probiotic label is CFU, or colony forming units. This tells us how many bacteria in the sample are capable of dividing and forming colonies. AFU (active fluorescent units) is a new form of measurement, which allows for a more precise measurement of all viable cells, including those that are effective but not necessarily culturable (and would not be counted in a traditional CFU measurement).
Must confer a health benefit: This means that each specific strain (not just the species) must have been clinically studied and shown to be beneficial.
Host: That’s you!

Why are probiotics important?

Virtually every process happening inside the human body involves microorganisms in one way or another. Regularly new discoveries come out, bringing further insight into the little organisms that inhabit us and the direct impact they have on our health and illnesses.

Many individuals equate probiotics with gut health. We understand, however, that the possibilities of using probiotics go well beyond this limited perspective. The bodily organs are intricate and correlate with each other, with the gut serving as the focal point. The condition of your digestive system has an effect on various aspects such as immunity, heart health, and skin well-being. Therefore, oral probiotics possess the ability to improve digestion in the area it is taken as well as in other areas of the body.

Why is probiotic the marketing buzzword right now?

People seem to think that probiotic is synonymous with wellness, which leads them to actively seek out probiotic-infused products in both food items and beauty items, even though it isn’t necessarily that easy.

Although there are regulated definitions for what is considered a probiotic, there is not any regulation surrounding the marketing of these products. As a result, you will often encounter brands advertising unhealthy items containing sugar and chemicals as beneficial for your health. Be aware when you notice the word “probiotic” printed on the side of something. Look at the label and go to the company’s website to analyze the evidence they give to support the declaration.

How do probiotics work?

Contrary to what some people think, probiotics usually don’t make their home in your digestive system. In comparison to the vast number of germs existing in the intestines, a majority of probiotics do not have enough new bacteria to significantly alter the microbiota.

Researchers are aware that probiotics move through the large intestine as momentary microorganisms, engaging with the existing bacteria, intestinal cells, immune cells, and sustenance components to yield advantages both straightforwardly and in a roundabout way.

Sarah Lebeer, PhD, professor of applied microbiology and biotechnology at the University of Antwerp, shared in a recent lecture that probiotics can have five main modes of action:

Interact with existing microbiome: Probiotics can regulate the composition and activity of resident microbes by inhibiting potential pathogens as well as stimulating the growth of beneficial bacteria as an extra defense against pathogens. Probiotics can also affect digestive capacity and stool consistency and frequency.
Enhance gut-barrier function: Probiotics can stimulate the intestinal epithelial barrier (cell wall) function and prevent pathogens or inflammatory compounds from crossing the gut barrier, which can lead to inflammation or illness.
Fine-tune immune response: Probiotics can balance and improve local and systemic immune responses by interacting with specific receptors and modulating certain pathways and cells of the immune system.
Initiate important metabolic functions: Probiotics can produce vitamins, amino acids, or enzymes (such as lactase and bile salt hydrolases) that have beneficial impacts on metabolic health, from cholesterol levels to blood sugar balance.
Impact neurological function: Probiotics can modulate neurologic functions via the gut-brain axis because they can produce neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), both of which have a tremendous impact on mental and emotional health.

Benefits of Good Bacteria

The beneficial bacteria that populate the digestive tract work in many possible ways, depending on the type of bacteria and other factors, including:

protecting against harmful bacteria
regulating the responses of the immune system
strengthening the tissue of the bowel wall
helping to digest food
producing vitamins such as thiamine, riboflavin, vitamin B12, and vitamin K
enhancing absorption of some minerals
improving symptoms of some digestive diseases and disorders
helping to regulate weight
improving heart health

Modifying the Microbiome

There are many ways to treat and manage dysbiosis. In bacterial infection scenarios, antibiotics may be used to eliminate the disagreeable bacteria. Continuing troubles can be remedied with the assistance of probiotics and prebiotics in order to bring equilibrium back to the microbiome. A further technique that can be used is to reintroduce microorganisms to help enhance a person’s bacterial community. In this section, we will discuss how to utilize these instruments to impact the digestive tract.

Probiotics

The law in Canada requires that probiotic products must feature living microorganisms which have been proven by research to be beneficial, and present in plenty to provide health advantages. Probiotics are usually found in supplement form, but there are also some food products that contain them (not to be confused with products that have been fermented). Normally, a accepted probiotic will have a restricted selection of advantageous bacteria, sometimes a few kinds and occasionally just a single one. Nevertheless, the bacteria (or other microorganism) strain(s) have been observed in research to be effective in managing a particular ailment. The microorganisms that are actively alive move into the intestines and help with restoring balance in the microbial environment while also causing certain results.

There are various species from the Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus genera that can promote well-being, yet particular kinds can result in distinctive outcomes. Studies have indicated that the bacterial species termed Bifidobacterium infantis 35624 (Align®) can be effective in reducing abdominal pain, bloating, and flatulence in people impacted by irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This probiotic could be beneficial for those with particular digestive disturbances, however it might not be advantageous for somebody with a different issue or a person who does not have any digestive issues.

Other potential advantages of distinct types of Bifidobacterium may be preventing post-antibiotic dysentery, reducing the likelihood of necrotizing enterocolitis in babies, diminishing signs of inflammatory bowel disease, keeping bad bacteria from multiplying, and enhancing colon functioning. Different types of Lactobacillus have similar advantages such as controlling diarrhea in kids, decreasing levels of lipids in blood, preventing UTIs in females, and treating IBD.

Most probiotics contain advantageous bacteria, however, there are certain items that are tailored to other microbes, such as Florastor®, which features a yeast called Saccharomyces boulardii lyo CNCM I-745. Florastor® is seen as beneficial when it comes to staving off antibiotic-induced diarrhea because the antibiotic medication does not affect the yeast.

Discovering the ideal probiotic may be tricky due to the vast selection of items and the limited studies conducted on them. In addition, there’s not much of a check on the advertising of these goods, so the statements on them may not be confirmed or significant. For example, a lot of products emphasize on the quantity of organisms in a dose, which could cause you to invest in the item that has the largest count, however, this may not be the most suitable one for you. Some research exists which can assist you in discovering a good that is suited to your desires.

Discuss the use of a probiotic with your doctor before taking one to determine if there is any research indicating that it will be advantageous for you. A group of experts with a good reputation has produced a guide based on facts about probiotic products that are available in Canada that can help you in your care. AEProbio is a global partnership of medical experts, investigators, and investigators that collaborate to boost the use of probiotics in treatment to get better health results. Annually, they assess the existing scientific data on probiotics with unbiased considerations, to revive the Clinical Lead for Probiotic Items Offered in Canada.

What strains are important to look for in a probiotic? Does this differ from person to person?

As mentioned, strain specificity is critical. In each particular species of bacteria, significant variation exists, with a potential for hundreds or thousands of distinct strains. It is worth considering that though golden retrievers, French bulldogs, and wolves are all part of the same species (Canis lupus familiaris), they vary immensely. Different varieties of bacteria, even those belonging to one species, can be surprisingly disparate.

It is essential to pick the right strain for every purpose, ranging from digestive issues to skin irritations, because the specifics of strains are significant. It is essential to search for microorganisms that have been scientifically examined to demonstrate their capability of promoting wellbeing, within and on the body, and to be included in the probiotic product in amounts adequately sufficient for the desired effect.

Essentially it is vital to be aware that what you’re utilizing has been examined on humans in order to both demonstrate a helpful outcome and to verify its safety. The type of probiotic needed will depend on the health objectives of the person, even though it does not require a specifically tailored probiotic.

In 2012, the National Institutes of Health finished a five-year investigation which revealed that there is no single “healthy microbiome” and that there are, however, benefits to eating particular strains which have been shown to supply benefits for the host.

It appears that the process in which our microbiome operates is of much more significance than simply the types of microbial organisms that exist. Basically, it is more important to focus on the actions of your bacteria rather than their identity.

Researchers are currently studying certain types of advantageous bacteria that are able to provide a health benefit to humans, regardless of the bacteria found in their bodies in the beginning.

What are the biggest myths surrounding probiotics that you aim to dispel?

A commonly held misconception is that fermented foods provide the same benefits as taking probiotics supplements. Fermented foods may possibly have probiotic properties, yet the majority of them do not fulfill the established scientific conditions that have been accepted worldwide. Nonetheless, your much-loved fermented goodies, for instance kombucha and yogurt, can be useful for your health if you evade adding extra sugar ? which, regretfully, eliminates most of the rewards.

Let’s look at traditional sauerkraut as an example. It may contain certain forms of the bacterium L. plantarum, yet unless both the strain and dose are specified, these microorganisms do not meet the requirements for being considered probiotics.

If the sauerkraut has the specific live probiotic strain L. plantarum 299V in the appropriate quantitiy, it can be labeled as a probiotic fermented food.

What to do With This Information

It is recommended to consult a physician regarding the most effective probiotics for you to use. The type of probiotic you should use will be based on your digestive health, illnesses that you have or don’t have, your diet and way of life, and multiple other considerations. For instance, the good bacteria to use for someone with a dominant symptom of constipation in irritable bowel syndrome would be different than the ones that would aid somebody with Crohn’s disease. Most folks can benefit from incorporating fermented foods and prebiotics into their diet, which may help with digestive issues. Be sure to gradually incorporate these foods, beginning with small amounts and increasing your consumption as you become more tolerant. Furthermore, heed our directions to appropriately sustain beneficial microbes.

If you are dealing with persistent dysbiosis, such as chronic C. difficile infection, and wish to restore your microbial equilibrium, it is advised to seek advice from your healthcare provider. The doctors may suggest you to see an expert who can evaluate your condition and determine if treatment is appropriate.