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What is the importance of human gastrointestinal microflora?

Inside each of us live vast numbers of bacteria (several trillion) that are necessary for good health. There are five major groups of bacteria that inhabit the human gut and many other minor groups. The five major groups include the bifidobacteria, lactobacilli, streptococci, bacteroides, and the coliforms. They all thrive in the warm, wet, and dark spaces inside animal bodies, and they compete vigorously to establish colonies. A healthy intestine is one that maintains a critical balance between the friendly and harmful bacteria. Any imbalance or the reduction of the friendly or beneficial bacteria results in ill health.

Why is it important to monitor these flora in the human gastrointestinal tract?

If harmful bacteria grow too great in proportion, fairly serious consequences can result. Diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis (rheumatoid arthritis of the spin), colitis, diabetes, meningitis, myasthenia gravis (a neuromuscular defect that causes muscular weakness and debility), thyroid disease, and bowel cancer are thought to have a connection with a significantly altered bowel flora. Substances produced by harmful bacteria have been shown to have tumor-promoting capabilities and to cause immune dysfunction and local inflammation.

When we hear the phrase "friendly flora," what are we talking about?

We are about helpful bacteria rather than pathogenic (disease-causing) bacteria or germs. Among the five major bacteria in the gut, lactobacilli and bifidobacteria are considered to be beneficial and the coliforms are considered to be harmful bacteria. Many people aren't aware of it, but there is a predominance of friendly bacteria living in our intestines that actually work very hard to keep us from being infected by the pathogenic ones. So when a biologist talks about "friendly flora," that expert is talking about the populations of helpful microbes inhabiting the human gut.

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What are the primary causes of microflora imbalance?

Travel is just one way to upset the balance of intestinal flora. Changing food habits, diets high in sugar, high heat-treated products, environmental contaminants, disrupted sleep cycles, and antimicrobial agents such as antibiotics can all affect our internal environments.

What damages the friendly bacteria, rendering them useless?

A high level of local acidity is one major detrimental influence. Acidity is created by certain types of diet, digestive function, and stress on the system. Another influence is the speed of peristalsis (the wavelike contraction of the intestines), which moves food along the digestive tract. If it is too rapid (as in diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, or colitis), this severely reduces the efficiency of the flora. If it is too slow (as in atonic or spadstic constipation), this too causes changes in their function. The type of diet may have a major influence on bacteria health. The bacteria are healthier on a diet rich in complex carbohydrates (vegetables, whole grains, legumes) and low in animal fats and fatty meat. This diet, which is healthiest for people, is also ideal for the healthy bacteria. The friendly bacteria are also influenced to a major extent by the degree of infection by yeast and bacteria to which the bowel is subjected. Certain drugs, especially antibiotics, can severely upset this delicate balance. Penicillin will kill friendly bacteria just as efficiently as it will kill disease-causing bacteria. Steroids (hormonal drugs) such as cortisone, ACTH, prednisone, and birth control pill also cause great damage to the healthy bowel flora.

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What is Lactobacillus acidophilus?

This is one of the friendly bacteria that consumes and metabolizes sugars and produces lactic acid. It can be found in some fermented dairy products and nutritional supplements. When acidophilus is consumed in adequate numbers, it populates the intestinal tract and can enhance the state of health.

What makes DDS-1 special?

The beneficial properties of this strain have been well documented over the years, something no other may claim. These healthful properties are based on research that has been documented in internationally reputable journals. Those documented benefits are as follows:

  • Production of properties enzymes, which help us digest proteins, lactase for breaking down lactose, and lipase enzymes to help digest fat.
  • Production of B vitamins, which are biocatalysts in food and metabolism, particularly folic acid and vitamin B12.
  • Production of acidophilin, which is a natural antibiotic-like agent that inhibits 23 known toxic microorganisms.

Our research has demonstrated conclusively that there is a considerable difference between the different strains of lactobacillus. In fact, the very same strain grown under different conditions will show different properties. This is why DDS-1 is more than simply the particular strain of the species; it is a product of specific conditions of the culture and the processes. L. acidophilus DDS-1 is produced by a unique process that includes growing it in a special medium. It is then mixed with special cryoprotective (protecting against the cold) agents before it is freeze-dried. It is finally stabilized with a specially designed natural stabilizer to protect the microorganisms against moisture, light, heat and humidity. This provides a stability that is unsurpassed to date. So, even this same strain of L. acidophilus DDS-1, if not produced by the University of Nebraska process, would not have the same beneficial properties and stability.

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What are the natural foods from which we can derive acidophilus?

Fermented foods like tempeh, miso, amazake, umeboshi, plums, sour pickles, sauerkraut. However, be aware that yogurt and these other foods can be fermented with many kinds of microorganisms besides lactobacillus. In addition, many of these products are heat-treated after fermentation, killing the bacteria. Most yogurts made in the United States contain acidophilus, but strain differences exist.

What is meant by probiotics?

Certain bacteria help to maintain good health and certain bacteria have a definite value in helping us regain health once it has been upset. These dual protective and therapeutic roles of certain bacteria explain why the word "probiotics" was coined. Probiotics means "for life." Probiotics have been defined as organisms, such as friendly bacteria, which contribute a great deal to the health and balance of the intestinal tract, thus benefiting us by protecting against disease and improving nutrition. They are live microorganisms that can enhance our state of health.

What do probiotics do?

Probiotics contribute to our digestion and nutrition, reduce cholesterol levels, counteract the negative effects from antibiotic therapy and improve our immune system.

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How do probiotics contribute to our digestion and nutrition?

Here, the probiotics contribute in many ways:

  • They enhance the digestion and absorption of protein.
  • They improve the digestion and absorption of fat.
  • They may increase the absorption and retention of minerals such as phosphorus, calcium, and iron.
  • They may lessen the severity of allergic response to milk.
  • They produce some B vitamins and possibly vitamin K

do probiotics contribute to cholesterol reduction?

Some preliminary research has produced promising results in lowering serum cholesterol with the dietary use of lactobacilli. Future research will indicate how many bacteria are needed for a beneficial effect.

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How do probiotics counteract the negative effects of antibiotic therapy?

Individuals who have undergone antibiotic therapy frequently report a normalization of intestinal function when they take probiotic preparations.

How do probiotics contribute to our immune system?

It has been documented that lactobacilli may enhance white blood cell activity (specifically the macrophage cells and lymphocytes). This means that the immune system becomes more powerful and more effective. Lactobacilli produce lactic acid in the gastrointestinal tract and this helps prevent the growth of harmful bacteria (pathogens). Lactobacilli produce natural nontoxic, antibioticlike agents that can inhibit the growth of some pathogenic bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract. When the lactobacilli have successfully colonized the gastrointestinal tract, they may prevent the growth of harmful microorganisms like Candida albicans and Clostridia.

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Who needs probiotics or might benefit from their use? Do most people need probiotic supplementation?

Individuals who would benefit from probiotics are those who take antibiotics, some cortisonelike drugs, birth control pills, alcohol, some food additives, caffeine, chlorinated or fluoridated water, and processed foods, as well as those on high-fat and high-sugar diets which can destroy the natural intestinal flora. Ideally, we should completely avoid factors that can disturb our bacterial ecosystem. For most people this is impossible. Probiotic supplementation, then, is a vital way to promote good health. These supplements can help offset the disturbing effect that dietary, environmental, and emotional stresses create in the GI tract.

Since it has been established that we all need 3-4 pounds of healthy intestinal flora, anyone who may have disrupted this balance could benefit from probiotics. The disruption could have occurred due to various lifestyle factors, especially the utilization of antibiotics (which are also in much of the meat we eat today). Even if you are healthy, taking probiotic supplements or eating foods fermented with L. acidophilus will help ensure that you have enough of the little critters in your system. People of the Middle East, India and Asia have known about the therapeutic value of lactobacillus for thousands of years. They preserved foods and enhanced the foods' nutritional benefits by controlled fermentation of special cultures of bacteria.

When should one start or stop taking probiotics? How long can it take to improve an imbalance of intestinal flora?

Beyond correction of a depleted system, probiotics are important on a maintenance/prevention basis. They are used to counteract any deficiency in the body that may occur because of lifestyle habits, ill health, and/or gastrointestinal problems. Not taking them is like not taking your food. Because probiotics maintain a healthy balance in the system, they can be likened to an insurance policy that protects physical belongings in the case of theft, fire, or some other catastrophe.

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After implementing a course of probiotics and improving dietary factors, what signs of success should one expect?

In order for L. acidophilus and B. bifidum to be effective, they must be present in extremely high quantities. In a stool culture, 50 to 100 percent of bowel bacteria, such as lactobacillus, is considered to be the healthy range. Of course, other sighs of success include diminished adverse symptoms and a greater sense of health and well-being.

What daily dose is required to combat acute infection?

A daily dose of 1 billion to 10 or 15 billion organisms may constitute a good dose, depending upon the severity of the situation.

Are all L. acidophilus strains or cultures the same?

No. The L. acidophilus called DDS-1 is a unique strain that was developed by Dr. Khem Shahani at the University of Nebraska. The other flora strains that we use are also proprietary; but certain processing steps involve a proprietary stabilization process and the use of some micronutrients, such as vitamins and minerals.

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How can one be sure that a product is reliable?

You have to depend on your supplier. This places a very serious responsibility on the supplier. The supplier must be able to clarify to the consumer that the product does contain the organisms that are mentioned on the label, that the product contains the correct count, and that they are all stable over a period of time; the supplier must have done research on its own products to show this. These are all very important factors.

What is the best manufacturing process for probiotics?

Presently, we incorporate the best scientific methods known when we manufacture DDS-1 acidophilus. A description of this manufacturing process is the best way to illustrate this.

At Nebraska Cultures, Inc., L. acidophilus DDS-1 is manufactured by an exclusive, unique process involving growth in a well-defined and highly nourishing medium for this special strain. In the manufacturing process, the microorganisms are first concentrated by removing unspent liquid medium by sedimentation, ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis, and/or centrifugation. The viability of the cells is not damaged during these processes unless the processing equipment is faulty and/or the processor is not properly trained. There is no convincing research data establishing that centrifugation is harmful to bacteria. Following freezing, the mass is freeze dried in a specially designed unit. The final product is then subjected to fine screening and quality control that involves more than ten rigorous tests. When the product passes all the tests, it is then mixed with a natural stabilizer to prevent the loss of its viability during packaging, shipping, storage, marketing and consumption.

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