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OPTIMIZE YOUR HEALTH Acidophilus – The Friendly Bacteria
for Gastrointestinal and Urogenital Health Disclaimer: Information provided in this newsletter is for general education purposes only. It is not meant to diagnose or treat specific conditions. Readers are advised to consult their personal physicians for diagnosis and management of their specific health concerns. Lactobacilli are symbiotic and make up some of the 400 normal flora in the human gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts. Lactobacilli are used therapeutically as probiotics, the opposite of antibiotics. They are considered "friendly" bacteria and are taken for the purpose of re-colonizing areas of the body where they normally would occur. The human body relies on the normal flora for several functions including metabolizing foods and certain drugs, absorbing nutrients, and preventing colonization by pathogenic bacteria. Lactobacilli seem to provide nutritional benefits including inducing growth factors and increasing the bioavailability of minerals. Lactobacilli also stabilize the mucosal barrier and decrease intestinal permeability. Probiotics such as lactobacillus are typically used in cases when a disease occurs or might occur due to depleted normal flora. For example, treatment with antibiotics can kill off pathogenic bacteria and also the normal flora of the gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts. Altering the normal flora allows for potential colonization by pathogenic organisms, which can result in side effects such as diarrhea, cramping, and less commonly pseudomembranous colitis caused by Clostridium difficile. Taking lactobacillus probiotics during antibiotic treatment can prevent or minimize normal flora depletion and pathogenic bacteria colonization. When probiotic lactobacilli latch on to and colonize the intestinal and urogenital mucosa, it seems to prevent epithelial attachment by pathogenic bacteria. Lactobacilli also inhibit bacterial pathogens by producing lactic acid, and many lactobacilli also produce hydrogen peroxide. Lactobacilli might also inhibit the translocation of bacteria across the intestinal mucosa by strengthening the epithelial barrier and by promoting accelerated epithelial repair. There is also some preliminary evidence that lactobacilli and other probiotics might help protect against cancer. In animal models, lactobacillus has been shown to bind dietary carcinogens and decrease development of tumors in the colon after carcinogen challenge. Most researchers agree that the effectiveness of lactobacilli and other probiotics for all indications depends on their ability to colonize an area of tissue. To do this, lactobacillus preparations must contain live and viable organisms. For oral preparations, bacteria must also remain viable after passing through the gut and then they must be able to latch on to the intestinal epithelium. Some strains might also have differing activity against specific pathogens. Host factors such as hormone levels can also influence adherence and effectiveness. The ability of lactobacilli to attach to epithelial cells can change during a woman's menstrual cycle in response to changing hormone levels. In post-menopausal women, correcting low estrogen levels can help restore lactobacillus colonization. Probiotic strains may also differ in specific metabolic activities, and not all lactobacilli species inhibit a wide range of pathogenic bacteria. Therefore, some researchers theorize that probiotic preparations containing several species might offer more benefit than a single species. There is some concern that concomitant administration of antibiotics might decrease the effectiveness of lactobacillus. Since lactobacillus preparations usually contain live and active organisms, simultaneously taking antibiotics might kill a significant number of the organisms. Administration of antibiotics and lactobacillus preparations should be separated by at least two hours. Scientific literature supports the health benefits of probiotics used in these conditions:
The Probiotic Gap (depletion of normal flora are seen in the following conditions):
During July and August, the following products are 5% off.
—July 2006
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