How to choose the best probiotic for your needs (1) ...........

This is based on the research and reports of the gastroenterologist Dr Georges Mouton, guiding how we can choose the best probiotic for our individual needs:

1)Different probiotic strains: Probiotics have different genera, species and strains with a diverse range of properties and benefits for the person taking them. The best probiotic supplements acknowledge this and apply specific strains to target specific health conditions. For example, the Saccharomyces boulardii strain will help with diarrhoea and the Lactobacilli strains can help those taking antibiotics. When it comes to probiotics, there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’, because we all have varying needs and a different bacterial make-up in our digestive tracks.


2) It’s all in the research: It’s important that the probiotic you choose lists the individual probiotic ‘strain’ names, because the health benefits of probiotics are species- and strain-specific. For instance:

Lactobacillus = genus
acidophilus = species
NCFM® = strain

When you have the actual probiotic strain name (and not just the genus and species), you should be able to Google it and see a list of clinical trials which have successfully proven the benefits of that specific strain.

3) Quality control: As well as being scientifically tested for specific health conditions, probiotic strains should all pass the following criteria to help guarantee their effectiveness:

* Ability to survive at room temperature (even refrigerated probiotics need to be stable whilst away from the fridge)

* Ability to resist gastric acidity & biliary salts (so that they survive their journey to your gut, where they get to work)

* Ability to stick to the intestinal wall (it is only then that probiotics can multiply in the gut)

* Ability to inhibit pathogens once in the intestines


In-vitro testing (testing for safety in humans) should be carried out on probiotics to make sure they can pass these essential criteria. Again, these tests are carried out on probiotic strains themselves, and not just the genus and species.....

I will continue in my next blog entry, commencing with information on microorganism concentration in your daily probiotic dosage.


To your abundant excellent health,


Dr Ike
Holistic Health Coach and Functional Health Expert


Sources:

McFarland, L.V. & Bernasconi, P. (1993) ‘Saccharomyces boulardii : A review of an innovative biotherapeutic agent.’ Microbial Ecology in Health and Disease; VOl. 6. Pp. 157 – 171.

Hochter, W. et al (1990) ‘Saccharomyces boulardii in acute adult diarrhoea. Efficacy and tolerance of treatment.’ Munchener Medizinische Wochenschrift; Vol. 132 (12) pp. 188- 192.

Cetina-Sauri, G. & Basto, S. (1994) ‘Therapeutic evaluation of Saccharomyces boulardii in children with acute diarrhea. Annales de Pediatrei; Vol. 41 (6) pp. 397-400.

Dr Benes, Z. et al (2006) ‘Lacidofil (Lactobacillus acidophilus Rosell-52 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus Rosell-11) alleviates symptoms of IBS.’ Nutrafoods, Vol. 5 pp 20 – 27.

Vanderhoof, J.A. et al. (1999) ‘Lactobacillus rhamnosus (GG) in the prevention of antibiotic –associated diarrhea in children with respiratory infections: a randomised study. Pediatrics 1999; 104(5): e64.

EFSA Panel Members, ‘Scientific Opinion on the substatiation of health claims related to non characterised microorganisms pursuant to Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) NO 1924/2006’ EFSA Journal 2009, (7):1247, pp. 64.

Chapman, C.M.C., et al., (2010) ‘Health Benefits of probiotics : are mixtures more effective than single strains ?’ European Journal of Nutrition; Vol 50 (1) pp.1-17.

Kumar et al. (2005) ‘Beneficial effects of probiotics & prebiotics on human health’ Pharmazie Vol. 60 (3) p. 163-171

Saavedra, J. & Tschernia, A. (2002) ‘Human studies with probiotics and prebiotics: clinical implications.’ British Journal of Nutrition, Volume 87 (6) Supplement s2, pp. 241 – 246.