Are You Using Probiotics Correctly?

[Guest guest]

Last week, as you may recall, I wrote about prebiotics, those behind-the-scenes

digestive health assistants that serve to nurture probiotics, their more widely

celebrated colleagues. Known to help increase bowel regularity while decreasing

gas and bloating, probiotics are making their way onto more and more top-10

health lists so it's not so surprising to find them tucked into all manner of

foods and beverages, with labels slapped on touting their health benefits.

However, the formula for using probiotics to optimize your health is somewhat

more nuanced than merely spooning up a daily serving of yogurt! That's okay --

giving you the " story behind the story " is exactly what Daily Health News is

here to do. So read on to learn the real secret to putting probiotics to work

for you.

Probiotics Go Mainstream

Probiotics are definitely getting more respect. A friend told me that her doctor

gave her the name of a probiotic supplement when he handed her an antibiotic

prescription, telling her to take them to replenish the valuable intestinal

bacteria that the antibiotics would suppress. Probiotics have made their way

into the hospital world, too -- they're given to patients to help prevent deadly

intestinal diseases that have resulted from antibiotic-resistant superbugs...

researchers are studying their use for premature babies... and a few doctors

even are urging consideration of a new hand-hygiene protocol that involves

dipping caregivers' hands into probiotic solutions after scrubbing in order to

recolonize the skin with good bacteria.

Maybe those doctors are also telling patients to buy probiotic-fortified foods

at the supermarket -- and there's nothing wrong with doing so. But Leo Galland,

MD, director of the Foundation for Integrated Medicine in New York City , wants

us to understand that we won't achieve any meaningful benefits by relying on

these probiotic-fortified food sources alone.

Why We Need Supplements

Dr. Galland explained that acid naturally present in most probiotic-containing

foods suppresses these helpful bacteria, at least partially -- so it's

impossible to know how many cultures survive and are of benefit. He believes

that supplements are a better route since they reliably deliver a beneficial

number of probiotic organisms.

However, he pointed out that specific types of probiotics can be used to address

specific health concerns. This is another argument for supplements instead of

probiotic-fortified foods and another reason why it's important to work with a

doctor (a naturopathic physician or a gastroenterologist experienced in working

with prebiotics and probiotics) who can ascertain what's best for you, how much

you should take and at what times of day.

Dr. Galland told me that he tends to prescribe specific types of probiotics in

certain situations. For example...

•For people with no particular health concerns, Dr. Galland might suggest 20

billion Colony Forming Units (CFUs) of combined lactobacillus and

bifidobacterium " as a good general preventative for intestinal and respiratory

tract infections. "

•For people taking antibiotics, Saccharomyces boulardii (S. boulardii, brand

name Florastor) usually is the best choice (though actually this particular

probiotic is not a bacteria but a yeast). It's also helpful in boosting

effectiveness of Flagyl (metronidazole) and is used to treat Clostridium

difficile colitis and antibiotic-associated colitis, as well as other bacterial

and nonbacterial intestinal infections. Note: Dr. Galland said that S. boulardii

should be taken only for the duration of antibiotic or Flagyl treatment, after

which he switches his patients to a bacteria-based probiotic.

•For patients having abdominal surgery, Dr. Galland prescribes Lactobacillus

plantarum for a few weeks before and after surgery, since research shows that it

helps reduce postoperative infections. Other studies demonstrate that

lactobacillus probiotics can help to reduce frequency of diarrhea and abdominal

pain in cancer patients as well.

•For gas and bloating, Dr. Galland said that certain soil-based organisms

(called " SBOs " -- for instance, one kind is Bacillus laterosporus) can be

helpful. These probiotics aren't normally found in the human digestive system

and they won't take up permanent residence, so patients who find them beneficial

may want to continue taking them daily even after their symptoms have subsided,

he added.

what's best for you?

As with prebiotics, Dr. Galland said that it may take some trial and error to

identify which probiotics are helpful in achieving the desired results without

upsetting your system. He has found Lactobacillus plantarum beneficial for many

of his patients, but it isn't always the right choice. Dr. Galland told me that

experienced doctors often use sophisticated stool test results to identify the

types of bacteria already in a patient's system, since this information can help

determine the best course of pre- and probiotic therapy, along with other

natural supplements that will yield good results.

If you want to try adding probiotics to your personal health regimen, talk to a

doctor with expertise in this area and expect to start slowly and watch closely

to see what works best. (You'll know it's working if it helps diminish digestive

difficulties, such as gas, indigestion and irregular bowel movements.) This may

mean that you end up trying several different types of probiotics before you

find what helps your system function best. Stick with it though, since these

beneficial bacteria have the potential to transform your health for the better.

Source(s):

Leo Galland, MD, founder and director, Foundation of Integrated Medicine, New

York City