The Best Chiropractic Care in Mesa, Arizona
by James Bogash
Fermented milk high in bioactive peptides has BP lowering effect in hypertension
This article evaluated milk fermented with Lactobacillus and found that it lowered blood pressure in 21 weeks. Now, I’m not convinced that it was bioactive compounds in the milk that produced the results–supplementation of probiotics can lead to many positive health effects that could very well lead to mild lowering of BP.
AJCN — Abstracts: Seppo et al. 77 (2): 326 –
by James Bogash
Lactic acid bacteria secrete metabolites retaining anti-inflammatory properties after intestinal transport
Why is it, with all the research supporting the benefits of normal, healthy (probiotic) flora, that many still consider the main concern with antibiotic overuse the spread of resistant germs? It would take me days to explain all the benefits of good healthy flora on our health and how they can be virtually wiped out by one course of antibiotics.
This study finds that lactic acid bacteria (such as lactobacillus) have the ability to suppress TNF-alpha production systemically from their home in the GI tract. Remember that one of the hot new drugs out for psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn’s disease (Umbro) blocks TNF-alpha action as well.
Gut — Abstracts: Ménard et al. 53 (6): 821
by James Bogash
Induction of Protective IgA by Intestinal Dendritic Cells Carrying Commensal Bacteria
Sorry for the long title, but the basic idea is that normal flora interacts with the immune cells of the GI tract at a local level only. The presence of normal flora such as lactobacillus or acidopholus does not elicit a systemic immune response as would be expected by the presence of a pathogen such as salmonella, candida or clostridium. Do we need any more evidence than this that these bacteria are supposed to be there and that destroying them with antibiotics without thought to replacing them is poor medicine?
Science — Abstracts: Macpherson and Uhr 303 (5664): 1662
by James Bogash
Ask any allergy-suffering adult how much allergies suck and you’ll likely get an earful. Sneezing, watery eyes, sinus headaches, itchy eyes…it’s enough to make life miserable. When you combine this with asthma, curling up in the back of a dark cave seems greatly appealing.
Certainly anything you can do to protect this same scenario from playing out in your children would be welcome. Luckily, this is not purely up to chance and genetics.
It may be largely up to probiotics.
This is not going to be the first time I have touted the extreme benefits of a healthy bacterial flora on many aspects of health. Conversely, destruction of normal bacterial flora in a newborn, infant or toddler can wreak havoc to their immune system for decades to come, if not for the rest of his or her life. It is that critical.
This particular study looks at the use of Lactobacillus reuteri from pregnancy (in the moms) through one year (in the infants) on the development of IgE mediated allergy against ovalbumin (egg whites), birch tree and cat. Basically, the supplementation calmed down the immune response to all of these allergens for at least 2 years.
Don’t wait for your pediatrician to keep up with the medical literature and make these types of recommendations. In general, pediatricians are far more likely to vaccinate (contributes to allergies and asthma via a Th2 cytokine shift, in case you were wondering…) and give antibiotics for viral infections than they are to recommend probiotics. The closest I have heard is the recommendation to use a product like Florastor, which will absolutely NOT restore the normal bacterial flora in the gut after taking antibiotics.
If you have (or are expecting) a little one, the time to be proactive at protecting the delicate balance of his or her immune system is NOW. The use of medications later may never allow that balance to be regained. The only thing that may come close is the use of sublingual immunotherapy, but more on this in a future post.
Based on the mounting evidence, if your child’s pediatrician does not recommend or at least discuss probiotics with you, should you find a new one?
by James Bogash
Lactobacillus for Acute Infectious Diarrhea in Children: A Meta-analysis.
Gosh, I just love meta-analysis that supports stuff we’ve been saying for years.
This study shows a reduction in length of diarrhea by .7 days. Not much, but for a therapy that may lower future risk of infectious diarrhea and is very inexpensive, I’ll take it!!
Pediatrics — Abstracts: Van Niel et al. 109 (4): 678.
by James Bogash
Lactobacillus GG Bacteria Ameliorate Arthritis in Lewis Rats
Okay, so this is a rat study, but if there is anyone out there who still does not believe that the bacteria in the gut has the ability to modulate the inflammation in the body then they are as out of touch with the research as most clinicians. The bacterial flora (which is considered an organ system by some researchers) has a significant impact on our health through the modulation of the immune system, production of certain vitamins (B12, K), detoxification of xenobiotics, metabolic conversion of dietary compounds and territorial protective effects against pathogenic bacteria, viruses, parasites… We need to be viewing antibiotic use as a severely long term detrimental effect to overcome a short term problem (in most cases…).
Lactobacillus GG Bacteria Ameliorate Arthritis in Lewis Rats — Baharav et al. 134 (8): 1964 — Journal of Nutrition –
by James Bogash
Isoflavones and Functional Foods Alter the Dominant Intestinal Microbiota in Postmenopausal Women
When I recommend probiotics for patients, there are two things that I mention. First, one of the problems contributing to the need for probiotics is not just the destruction by normal flora, but also the lack of good replacement sources. A 100,000 yrs ago we used to bury our foods in the soil, allowing soil dwelling bacteria like Lactobacillus to completely invade the food.
Personally, I use a fridge–but it does lead to a lack of replacement source of good bacterial flora. Second, once a good balance of healthy flora is set up, good lifestyle habits have to be in place to support their growth.
This article finds that diet can have a positive effect on the balance of bacteria in our gut.
by James Bogash
Our immune system starts out delicate. The first 2 years are critical. Luckily, natural remedies for eczema in infants, toddlers and children are safe and effective.
The phrase to understand here is “immune tolerance.” The immune system is supposed to attack things it is supposed to (like bacteria and viruses) and not attack things it is not supposed to (like our skin, thyroid or gut). This is called tolerance. And it develops very early. Like, “in the womb” early.
A few things are well known to increase the risk of asthma and eczema very early in life.
Hold on…C-sections can increase the risk of immune system problems? “How does that happen?” you may ask.
One of the most powerful factors helping newborns, infants and toddlers develop a healthy immune system and good immune tolerance is the presence of a healthy bacterial flora. I would have to venture to say that, based on the evidence, this may be THE most important factor for a healthy immune system. And not just in our younger years, but for the rest of our lives.
Back to the C-section dilemma.
In the womb, a developing baby’s gut is sterile. Nothing is growing in it, although it is a warm and very hospitable environment for bacteria to grow. So, as the baby passes through the vaginal canal, that baby’s first exposure should be Lactobacillus from healthy bacterial flora in the vaginal vault. Now, if mom’s had antibiotics this might not occur.
So think of the C-section baby. Rather than Lactobacillus, the first bacteria to hit that nice warm growing environment is kind of up for grabs. And sure enough, we see differences in the bacterial flora of the gut in infants born vaginally vs C-section. But can the C-section baby be spared the increased risk?
That leads us to this particular study. Researchers found that giving a Lactobacillus supplementation for the first 2 years of a high risk newborn’s life had some pretty amazing effects.
Interestingly, the probiotic Bifidobacterium animalis did not affect the risk of any of these.
These are some pretty massive impacts from such a simple and safe natural remedy for eczema in our infants, toddlers and children. And keep in mind that these effects are likely lifelong–those first 2 years are so critical that they can set up a lifetime of protection or problems.
Looking at the flip side, it becomes clear that antibiotics can be a major contributor to the development of these same problems by killing off the good bacteria.
Given that some 90% of kids are given antibiotics by the time they are 2, did your child’s pediatrician explain some of the problems that might occur with destruction of the normal flora? Better yet, did they recommend probiotics after antibiotics? Feel free to share!
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