probiotics | MY SPECIAL DOCTOR

Probiotics beneficial, but beware of some possible side effects

22 February 20246 January 2024 by Renato Torlaschi

Probiotics are healthy strains of live bacteria and yeast; taking them can provide a number of benefits, but they can also cause side effects. An article in Medscape clarifies how probiotics promote health and how they can be safely taken.

As is well known, there are billions of bacteria and other microorganisms living in the gut-this community makes up the gut microbiota, and more and more research is showing its importance for digestion, gut health, and the whole body, for example, through supporting the immune system. Many bacteria provide benefits to their human hosts, but others cause harm: altering the natural balance of bacteria in the gut can lead to some problems. Products such as certain yogurts, supplements, and fermented foods, including kefir, sauerkraut, and tempeh, contain probiotics, and numerous research suggests that their consumption can lead to an increase in healthier bacteria, which help restore the balance of the gut microbiota.

There is evidence on the positive effects produced by probiotics for various conditions: eczema, obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, nonalcoholic liver steatosis, and immune system function.

However, some side effects may occur. Among these, experts list: digestive symptoms, skin problems, allergy risks, increased risks of infections, and bacterial overproliferation syndrome (Sibo).

Finally, albeit rarely, beneficial probiotics may contain antibiotic-resistant genes and could transmit these genes to other strains of bacteria, including dangerous and infection-causing ones. Manufacturers routinely test for antibiotic resistance in the probiotic strains placed on the market; therefore, the advice is to always obtain probiotics from reputable manufacturers.

More generally, it is recommended to read the labeling carefully and not to exceed the indicated dosage, although very little evidence suggests the possibility of probiotic overdose. However, if a probiotic is suspected of causing symptoms or side effects, its dosage should be reduced or its intake discontinued.

Postbiotics: an important reinforcement for our body’s defenses

26 February 20246 January 2024 by clemente.ferrara

Many of the foods we see on our table, especially those that are part of a healthy and balanced eating plan, can greatly benefit the health of our bodies and consequently the well-being of our bodies. In fact, some foods contain substances that are essential for our growth and have many beneficial activities: there are foods that are good for blood circulation, others that are good for the heart, good for the skin, and still others that are good for regulating intestinal activity and the immune system.

And it is in the latter two areas that postbiotics fit. Before seeing what it is specifically about, it is also worth mentioning the probiotics, such as Lactobacillus, good bacteria contained in foods such as yogurt that, once they reach the gut, exert a balancing action on the microflora; and the prebiotics, fibers that are found in vegetables or legumes and are not assimilable but promote the growth of useful bacteria already present in the gut, that is, they allow probiotics to proliferate. Finally, postbiotics are substances produced by the fermentation of probiotics.

The properties of postbiotics

Postbiotics are derived from the fermentation of milk with Lactobacillus Paracasei CBA L74, and are able to perform anti-inflammatory activity for our body and strengthen our immune defenses against the dangers of infectious agents and allergenic agents. There are a number of foods on the market today that contain postbiotic substances, but these are products intended more for the feeding of infants and children.

In the near future, however, we can foresee the arrival of new products intended for the adult population as well, which, in addition to strengthening the body’s defenses, will also intervene on allergies and immune system imbalances, with the important advantage of leading to a decrease in drug intake.

Fermented milk

A concrete example is fermented milk (which contains Lactobacillus L74 ), a popular food among mothers who choose it for the proper growth of their babies. In fact, according to a study done on 400 children from 12 to 48 months of age, fermented milk has been found to be a valuable food for stimulating the immune system by reducing by more than the 60% the number of respiratory and gastrointestinal infections in children who make a regular and controlled intake. The normal fermentation process that also affects other foods of the same kind, such as yogurt, was used to produce fermented milk. In fact, the milk was fermented with the human-derived probiotic (CBA L74) thus releasing the beneficial substances, namely postbiotics.

Weight loss and decreased anxiety with probiotics

23 February 20246 January 2024 by Alessia Giannino

An Italian research conducted by professors from the University of Tor Vergata, Sapienza and Policlinico Gemelli in Rome the
probiotics
contribute to weight loss and decreased anxiety.

The study focused on the gut microbiota, which is the set of microorganisms that inhabit the human gut. Several experiments were carried out on both healthy subjects and people with degenerative diseases by administering supplements containing 120 billion probiotics composed of 8 different bacterial strains. Probiotics are microorganisms that when administered in adequate amounts benefit the health of the host. Among the best known is Bacillus clausii, a soil-dwelling bacterium that is the basis of Enterogermine, the popular drug that restores intestinal flora and counteracts diarrhea to abdominal pain.

“Therapy with specially chosen probiotics brought effects to those affected by overweight or metabolic syndrome: in the absence of dieting there was a slight modulation of body composition, with weight loss and a reduction in adipose tissue. The most interesting finding was in anxious subjects, with a reduction in anxiety state.” explained Laura Di Renzo, professor of clinical nutrition and nutrigenomics at Tor Vergata University.

The goal of the research was to demonstrate the positive impact of probiotics on the human microbiota, along with the microorganisms living inside us. The mix of bacteria administered to participants caused those who were overweight to lose weight and also reduced anxiety. This is the most important finding, as

“The innovation of this study, ” stresses the director of the graduate school of food science, Professor Antonino De Lorenzo . is that instead of the usual pursuit research in this case, we have been able to carry out initiative research, choosing ourselves a process to follow, which, for two years now, we have been delving into… We only know 10 percent of the effects of bacterial flora. Together with Professor Antonio Gasbarrini of Policlinico Gemelli, we have formed a network to address this major research issue-we need to know the remaining 90 percent.”