Probiotics

By Wendy Gordon

We live in a culture petrified of bacteria. We wash our hands with antibacterial soap, scrub our homes with antibacterial cleansers and demand that our physicians prescribe antibiotics for every sniffle. To be sure, some bacteria are extremely harmful and antibiotics and modern sanitation are probably the biggest boons ever to the health of mankind. They have reduced former killers like pneumonia and strep infections to treatable illnesses, reduced the incidence of dangerous diarrhea and made childbirth and surgery safer. Yet, this achievement can blind us to the fact that not all bacteria are harmful. Our intestines are home to as many as 500 bacterial species, which aid in digestion, prevent the overgrowth of harmful organisms such as salmonella and assist the immune system in other ways that are not clearly understood. Research indicates that children raised in excessively clean environments (especially if formula fed) are actually more susceptible to some types of allergy and illness.

Probiotics, live bacterial preparations taken orally, may help balance out the equation. Most preparations contain bacteria from the genera lactobacillus or bifidobacterium. Sometimes you will also find streptococcus thermofilus (a yogurt starter bacteria), escheria, enterococcus, bacillus and saccharomyces (a yeast). While the concept of probiotics dates back over 100 years, it is only in the last few years that scientists have conducted any controlled studies on the subject.

A search of the Medline bibliographic database reveals zero citations for clinical trials prior to 1990, while the period from 2002-2004 lists 77. And, probiotic use is more common in Europe than the United States.

Here is what we know: probiotics have many potential uses. While they cannot prevent gastrointestinal infections caused by dangerous agents like E. Coli and rotavirus, by building up healthy intestinal flora they can add a significant layer of protection. A recent study in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition indicates that probiotics may relieve symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBD), which affects up to 22% of the U.S. population and is currently treated solely (and not very effectively) by symptom-relieving drugs. They improve lactose tolerance, allowing people to eat and enjoy calcium-rich dairy products with less discomfort. Probiotics seem to be quite useful in preventing urogenital infections caused by the anus' proximity to the urethra and vagina, which afflict over 60% of the world's women and predispose them to more serious illnesses such as herpes, gonorrhea, Chlamydia and even HIV. Preliminary research suggests that probiotics may help prevent colon cancer, lower cholesterol levels and blood pressure, improve trace mineral absorption and lessen allergic reactions to foods such as wheat gluten.

Probiotics have no side effects, save occasional intestinal bloating. The trick is to take the right one for your needs. Each different species exerts its own effect on your intestinal ecology, and the correct combination for specific disorders has yet to be determined. Probably the best bet is to take a preparation containing several of the lactobacillus and bifidobacterium, the two most common bacteria in the human gut. There's also a question as to how many bacteria survive the treacherous journey past stomach enzymes and acids, although it appears a surprising number make it alive into the intestine. Choose a preparation with the largest possible number of "viable cells" (the one I take contains 30 billion) and the kind that requires refrigeration. Taking probiotics on a full stomach increases the micro-organisms chances of survival, and also their likelihood of sticking around in the intestine long enough to do some good. So far, there is little evidence that, once taken, probiotics multiply on their own like self-seeding perennials. You must continue taking them daily to receive their beneficial effect.

Getting probiotics from food, rather than relying on a supplement, is another good option. Fermented milk products, most commonly buttermilk and yogurt, pack a load of beneficial bacteria and have long been linked with health and longevity. Similar claims are made for sauerkraut, Korean kimchi pickles and kombucha tea. These foods are probably the most effective vehicles for ingesting viable probiotics, but just like the pills, you would need to eat them daily.