Studies on Probiotics

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Probiotics and Pregnancy

Probiotics May Reduce Risk of Diabetes During Pregnancy

TURKU, Finland-According to Finnish researchers, probiotic strains Bifidobacterium lactis and Lactobacillus rhamnosus may help reduced the occurrence of type 2 diabetes, lower blood glucose and promote child health in pregnant women. A total of 256 women were randomized at their first trimester of pregnancy into a control and a dietary intervention group. The intervention group received intensive dietary counseling provided by a nutritionist and were further randomized, double blind to receive probiotics (L. rhamnosus GG and B. lactis Bb12; diet/probiotics) or placebo (diet/placebo).

No significant differences in prenatal or postnatal growth rates among the study groups were detected. Additionally, distinctive effects of the two interventions were detected; probiotic intervention reduced the risk of GDM and dietary intervention diminished the risk of larger birth size. The results show probiotic-supplemented perinatal dietary counseling could be a safe and cost-effective tool in addressing the metabolic epidemic. Researchers noted, "In view of the fact that birth size is a risk marker for later obesity, the present results are of significance for public health in demonstrating that this risk is modifiable."

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Probiotic and Conventional Yogurts Affect Cholesterol Levels.

A study published in the British Journal of Nutrition experimented to find the effect of probiotic and conventional yogurt on lipid profile. The randomized trial recruited 90 females aged 19-49 years into three groups – (1) 300g probiotic yogurt containing lactobacillus acidophilus and bifidobacterium lactis or (2) 300g conventional yogurt or (3) no yogurt for 6 weeks. The results were a decrease in cholesterol in the probiotic and conventional yogurt groups and an increase in HDL cholesterol levels in the probiotic group. These findings suggest probiotic and conventional yogurt had positive changes in lipid profile which may contribute to the prevention of hyperlipidemia.

If you consume probiotics every day, as food and/or supplements, you can help maintain the proper balance of bacterial flora in the gut and thus enjoy better health and vitality.

Study Over View:

probiotic plus 12 A daily dietary probiotic supplement containing bifidobacteria and lactobacillus acidophilus has been found to reduce the incidence of cold and flu-like symptoms in children by 50 percent.
probiotic plus 12 Researchers found that lactobacillus acidophilus and bifidobacteria were beneficial in preventing eczema in infants who were at high risk for allergies.
probiotic plus 12 A probiotic supplement containing lactobacillus was found to be effective in the treatment of IBS.
probiotic plus 12 L. acidophilus therapy has been reported to be helpful in the prevention and treatment of vaginal candidiasis infections.
probiotic plus 12 Researchers found that administration of Lactobacillus acidophilus reduced DNA damage in colon cells indicating a reduced risk of colon cancer.
probiotic plus 12 Infants treated with Lactobacillus acidophilus plus rehydration therapy recovered more quickly than those treated with other protocols that did not contain acidophilus.
probiotic plus 12 Researchers report that ingestion of lactic acid-producing bacteria substantially reduce the incidence of antibiotic-induced diarrhea.
probiotic plus 12 Probiotics support healthy cholesterol levels.
probiotic plus 12 Small amounts of L. acidophilus occur in cultured food products such as yogurt and acidophilus milk. However, in order to be effective, larger quantities need to be consumed in the form of supplement.
probiotic plus 12 Helps digest food and nourish the immune system.

Effects of Probiotics in Children with Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Bifidobacteria are bacteria that exist primarily in the large intestine although some also inhabit the lower part of the small intestine. To date, 28 species of bifidobacteria have been isolated from the intestines of humans and animals.

According to a study published in the Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, some probiotics may be helpful in the management of IBS in children and teens. the probiotic supplement was significantly superior to it in the primary endpoint, which was the subjective assessment of relief of symptoms. Probiotics were also more effective than placebo in 3 out of 4 secondary endpoints, which included abdominal pain/discomfort, abdominal bloating/gassiness and family assessment of life disruption.

Since probiotics appear to be safe and more effective than placebo in the treatment of IBS, it may be a useful supplement to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life in children and adolescents with IBS

"Good" Bacteria Keep Immune System Primed to Fight Future Infections, According to Penn. Study

PHILADELPHIA - Scientists have long pondered the seeming contradiction that taking broad-spectrum antibiotics over a long period of time can lead to severe secondary bacterial infections.

The investigators show that "good" bacteria in the gut keep the immune system primed to more effectively fight infection from invading pathogenic bacteria. Altering the intricate dynamic between resident and foreign bacteria - via antibiotics, for example - compromises an animal's immune response, specifically, the function of white blood cells called neutrophils.

Senior author Jeffrey Weiser, MD, professor of Microbiology and Pediatrics, likens these findings to starting a car: It's much easier to start moving if a car is idling than if its engine is cold. Similarly, if the immune system is already warmed up, it can better cope with pathogenic invaders. The implication of these initial findings in animals, he says, is that prolonged antibiotic use in humans may effectively throttle down the immune system, such that it is no longer at peak efficiency.

"Neutrophils are being primed by innate bacterial signals, so they are ready to go if a microbe invades the body," Weiser explains. "They are sort of 'idling', and the base-line system is already turned on."

If the immune system is on idle, and you treat someone with broad-spectrum antibiotics, then you turn the system off. The system is deprimed and will be less efficient at responding quickly to new infections. Benefits of probiotic therapies keep your immune system primed by eating foods enhanced with "good" bacteria may help counteract the negative effects of sickness and antibiotics.

Lactobacillus and the Use of Antibiotics.

Lactobacillus is a type of bacteria found in the intestinal tract and genital systems and is also found in fermenting products such as yogurt and dietary supplements. Antibiotics can cause diarrhea and lactobacillus has been used to help restore normal balance of intestinal bacteria eliminating the diarrhea. It has also been used for vaginal and urinary tract infections.

It appears that administration of Lactobacillus as a prophylactic agent during antibiotic treatment may reduce the risk of antibiotic-associated diarrhea in adults.

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