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Probiotics May Improve Children Health and Fight Disease
M.J. Friedrich and S. Gorback MD
Department of Medicine Tufts University Boston USA
[EXTRACT:]
The observation that adding certain microorganisms to the diet can improve microbial functioning and benefit health has led to the concept of Probiotic therapy. Such an approach is not new. Sherwood Gorbach MD of Tufts
University School of Medicine (USA) pointed out at the World Congress on Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition
in August, the study of probiotics began with Russian microbiologist, Elie Metchnikoff almost a century ago. And for thousands of years prior to Metchnikoff work, people consumed yogurts and fermented milk for their health.
In the last decade, interest in these potentially beneficial microorganisms has increased. A number of replicable, well controlled trials have been published that demonstrate the potential uses of probiotics therapy, with Bifidumbacterium and
Lactobacillus for by far the best studied of these probiotic agents, said Jose Saavvedra MD of John Hopkins Medical Centre.
GUT REACTIONS
"In terms of demonstrated effects, it's clear that if you ingest any live bacteria that produce lactase you can improve lactose malabsorption," said Saavedra. Aside from this one, however, there are a number of other therapeutic
applications for which certain probiotics show promise. Of particular note, he said, is the use of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus in the prevention and treatment of diarrhea in children.
Lactobacillus has been shown in a number of studies to
decrease the duration and severity of episodes of acute diarrhea, particularly in cases caused by rotavirus, said Saavedra.
One of the largest of these is a multi center European trial involving 287 children with acute diarrhea of rotaviral origin (J Pediatr, Gastroenterol Nutr. 2000;30:54-60). In this study, children with diarrhea who were randomly assigned to receive an oral re hydration solution containing a live preparation of Lactobacillus GG (LGG) showed a significant reduction in the duration of disease and in hospital stays compared with children who received the re hydration solution with placebo.
Saavedra, said another potential use for probiotics is to counteract episodes of diarrhea that can occur with antibiotics. In one placebo-controlled study (J Pedeatri. 1999;135:564-568), LGG was co administered with antibiotics to children treated for minor bacterial infections, resulting in a reduction in the severity and incidence of diarrhea in the children receiving the probiotic.
EFFECTS BEYOND GUT
Probiotics also may be useful in ameliorating some allergic reactions. Tufts' Gorbach discussed evidence from a controlled study showing that infants with atopic dermatitis and challenge-proven milk allergy who received formula supplemented with LGG had significant improvement in the severity of their eczema compared
with children who did not receive LGG (J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1997;99:179-185).
Commenting on the study, Gorbach said, "Here's an example of a food allergy reflected in the skin by eczema, which is improved by administration of healthy bacteria." He added that LGG may help ameliorate the allergic reaction by restoring intestinal permeability
which is disrupted in children with food allergy.
Although there are fewer studies in this area, probiotics also may be useful in treating respiratory infections in children. Gorbach described a recent unpublished report from Helsinki in which 571 children in 18 day care centers received milk containing LGG or a placebo. A significant reduction in respiratory infections, including sinusitis, bronchitis, and pneumonia, was seen in the children taking LGG, he said. There was also a reduction in the amount of antibiotics administered to these children by the physicians.
It seems, then, said Gorbach, that two mucosal surfaces, the gastrointestinal tract and the respiratory tract, may be benefited and protected by oral administration of a probiotic. How bacteria may improve intestinal and systemic conditions is not entirely clear, but clues to possible mechanisms are emerging.
There is also evidence that probiotics can induce expression of mucin proteins, the large glycoproteins secreted by epithelial cells in the intestinal tract that provide protection from bacteria and viruses, said David Mack, MD, of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, who presented evidence for this mechanism at the meeting. He and his colleagues have shown that certain lactobacilli strains can increase the expression
of MUC3 messenger RNA expression and MUC3 protein translation in cell culture and also inhibit adherence of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli to intestinal mucosal cells in culture. They hypothesize that by inducing mucin gene expression, probiotic agents may be able to minimize the interaction of other microbes with intestinal mucosal cells and lessen intestinal inflammation.
THE ROAD AHEAD
Preliminary data suggest that there are a number of other conditions in children for which probiotics may prove useful, said Johns Hopkins' Saavedra. These include inflammatory disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, such as inflammatory bowel disease and necrotizing enterocolitis. Treatment of hypercholesterolemia also has been reported, but there have been no major studies. And if immunoenhancing effects can be definitively demonstrated in humans, he said, probiotics could be used to reduce vaccine doses.
Other important areas of study include colon carcinogenesis. Because a number of changes in the intestinal medium can lead to a decrease in concentration of potential carcinogens, probiotics may be useful in cancer prevention, said Saavedra.
Are probiotics safe? Saavedra said that many reports and the fact that for centuries people have ingested fermented milk products with apparently no ill effects seem to indicate that these agents are safe. He stressed that more research needs to be done to standardize and regulate "what benefits we're getting from what strain and at what dose" for the full clinical potential of probiotics to be realized.
Below is an image of a box of LB17 live probiotic and vegetable soft gel capsule
 
Each box contains 60 capsules
LB17 live probiotic biomass
LB17 is now also available in paste form without capsules for those who do not or cannot take capsules - see below
 
Above is a 50gm bottle of LB17 biomass. Next pic is image of the biomass in bulk paste form
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The above information is provided for general educational purposes only. It is not intended to replace competent health care advice received
from a knowledgeable healthcare professional. You are urged to seek healthcare advice for the treatment of any illness or disease.
Health Canada and the FDA (USA) have not evaluated these statements. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any
disease.
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