Microorganisms are tiny living organisms, so small they can only be seen under a microscope. Many different types of microorganism are used as probiotics. Two of the more common ones are the bacteria Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium lactis, which are used to support gastro-intestinal wellbeing.
However, many other types of bacteria and also some yeast such as Saccharomyces boulardii have been used in various probiotic products.
Different probiotics have different benefits. Current research shows that probiotics assist:
- supporting gastro-intestinal wellbeing
- improving the immune system
- treating some types of viral diarrhoea
- providing beneficial bacteria during a course of antibiotics
The Medical Journal of Australia has reported that some strains of probiotics were effective in reducing antibiotic-associated diarrhoea. Antibiotics work by killing disease-causing bacteria. However, while the antibiotics are busy killing disease, they may also destroy some of the helpful bacteria in your intestine in the process, and this can lead to antibiotic?associated diarrhoea. Probiotics may help to restore the balance of helpful bacteria and thus help prevent diarrhoea. If antibiotics are prescribed for you, ask your doctor whether taking probiotics would be helpful.
Scientific understanding of probiotics and their ultimate potential for preventing and treating health conditions is at a relatively early stage. However, research is underway on a number of projects, and we look forward to seeing whether specific probiotics will be helpful for the following:
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Infections of the urinary tract or female genital tract
- Eczema in children
Who?s living in my intestines?
The average human intestine contains more than one kilogram of bacteria, and the number of bacterial cells in your intestine outnumber cells in a human by 10 times. And each person has several hundred different species of bacteria in their intestine, some of which are beneficial but some of which could be harmful. Our intestinal bacteria are essential to the correct functioning of our digestive system. Each person has their own individual microbial community, and keeping a balance between the beneficial and harmful microorganisms is a key to maintaining good health.
Factors such as poor diet, stress, aging, alcohol and taking antibiotics can easily upset the delicate balance of beneficial and harmful bacteria in the intestine and lead to poor health.
How do probiotics help?
There?s still much that we don?t know about the way probiotics work, but intensive research is unlocking more and more of their secrets. In general, taking probiotics means more helpful bacteria in the intestine, thus improving the balance between the helpful and harmful bacteria. Some strains of probiotics may work by suppressing the growth of harmful bacteria, or because they adhere well to the cells lining the intestine, making it more difficult for harmful bacteria to attach to the intestine.
Probiotics also have to withstand acidic conditions in the stomach and bile. But even with the best probiotics, it is usually necessary to take adequate amounts every day to obtain the benefits.
It is also important to read the product label to get the right daily dose. For most probiotics, a daily dose will contain between 10 billion and 40 billion ?colony forming units (CFU)? of probiotic microorganisms.
The right strain for you
It is well recognised that the benefits of one species or strain of probiotic does not necessarily apply for other species or strains. Even different preparations of the same species and strain can have different outcomes. So it is important to read the product information to ensure that the probiotic you take is designed for your intended purpose.
How long will they keep?
Probiotics are live microorganisms and how long they remain effective for depends on how they were manufactured and how they are stored. Some probiotic products must be stored in a refrigerator at all times to ensure that they remain viable until their labelled expiry date.
Other probiotics are manufactured by freeze drying, microencapsulation and other methods so that the product can be stored for relatively long periods at room temperature. However, we recommend that once you open the container of your probiotic product, it is best to store it in your refrigerator until it is all consumed.
Prebiotics v Probiotics
Prebiotics are not the same as probiotics. Prebiotics are non-digestible food ingredients such as inulin, pectin and resistant starch that are often found in fibre rich foods. They selectively stimulate the growth and activity of beneficial microorganisms already in people?s digestive systems and can be thought of as ?food? for probiotic bacteria.
If a product contains both prebiotics and probiotics, it is said to be Synbiotic. This helps to ensure that the probiotics have the best chance to flourish in the intestine.
Check out probiotic products in the healtheclub shop
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References:
Guidelines for the Evaluation of Probiotics in Food, Report of a Joint FAO/WHO Working Group on Drafting Guidelines for the Evaluation of Probiotics in Food. London Ontario, Canada April 30 and May 1, 2002
http://www.who.int/foodsafety/fs_management/en/probiotic_guidelines.pdf
Mimi Pham, Daniel A Lemberg and Andrew S Day, Probiotics: sorting the evidence from the myths, Medical Journal of Australia 2008; 188 (5): 304-308 http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/188_05_030308/pha10499_fm.html
An Introduction to Probiotics, National Institutes of Health, national Centre for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: http://nccam.nih.gov/health/probiotics/introduction.htm
Bifidobacterium lactis HN019 ? the daily contribution to health. DANISCO Technical Memorandum TM 2050-3e
Probiotics. Benefits beyond basic nutrition. Agriculture and Agri-food Canada. http://www4.agr.gc.ca/resources/prod/doc/misb/fb-ba/nutra/pdf/1179864042765_eng.pdf
American Society for Microbiology (2008, June 3) Humans have ten times more bacteria than human cells: How do microbial communities affect human health? http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080603085914.htm
Australian Institute of Sport. Fuelling your success. Probiotics: http://www.ausport.gov.au/ais/nutrition/supplements/supplement_fact_sheets/group_a_supplements2/probiotics
Capela, Paul (2006) Use Of Cryoprotectants, Prebiotics And Microencapsulation of Bacterial Cells in Improving the Viability of Probiotic Organisms in Freeze-Dried Yoghurt. Research Master thesis, Victoria University. http://vuir.vu.edu.au/580/
Source: http://www.brisbanepersonaltrainer.com.au/2012/07/ssh-probiotics-at-work/
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