by Dr. Kristen Bovee, Peninsula Naturopathic Clinic, Hydrate IV Wellness Centre –
Our “microbiome” (aka Probiotics) is a much-guarded mystery of the human body that has only recently been paid attention to. Probiotics are live microorganisms that offer many health benefits and naturally occur in our food and environment. In the past few decades, probiotics have also been prepared in supplement form. This way we can easily recolonize our gut more effectively. These microorganisms have adapted over time to live naturally in our bodies and provide a symbiotic relationship, essential for survival.
The two most common forms of probiotics (or “good bacteria”) that have been identified and investigated are lactobacilli and bifidobacteria. Lactobacilli are found primarily in our upper intestine and bifidobacteria is normally located in the lower bowel. A form of yeast called saccaromyces boulardii has also been extensively studied because of its ability to stay active when people need to take antibiotics. Prebiotics are the “food” that these desirable organisms feed off of in our gut and naturally stimulate their growth and activity. It has been estimated that a healthy gut contains more bacteria than cells in our bodies by 3:1 and that we have more than 500 to 1,000 strains in and on our bodies at one time.
Not all probiotics are the same and many have been specifically tested to determine their role in the human body. The following are a few important areas where probiotics have been studied in regards to the types of bacteria and how they benefitted humans in disease prevention and treatment.
Colitis and GI health. It has been established that our gut flora has an important role in prevention of chronic disease by way of supporting the maintenance of gut barrier function and modulation of the immune system. In people with forms of colitis such as IBD, Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis, the bacteria bifidobacterium longum 536, L. reuteri ATCC 55730, L. rhamnosus strain GG, have all shown to down-regulate the inflammatory response to benefit outcomes in therapy.
Weight Loss. A study that was published in the British Journal of Nutrition in 2014 found that Lactobacillus Rhamnosus CGMCC1.3724 (LPR) supported weight loss and maintenance in obese men and women. In addition to its effect on weight and fat mass loss, the LPR bacteria reduced by about 25% circulating leptin concentrations (the hormone that makes you hungry) and reduced the levels of a different bacterium that is suspected to encourage weight gain.
Mental Health. Another interesting area that microbiota research is being done is in mental health. In 2017, The Annals of General Psychiatry provided a study on the “gut-brain” axis and showed that certain bacteria can support neurotransmitter production in the brain. One example was with with Lactobacillus Brevis NCL912 strain of probiotic that showed to increase GABA levels in the brain, a neurotransmitter responsible for helping the mind focus and remain calm, especially in stressful situations.
The research on human probiotics is in its infant stages but the potential is immense. In 2012, the Human Microbiome Project published its initial results of sequencing the genome of the human microbiota, focusing particularly on the bacteria that normally inhabit the skin, mouth, nose, digestive tract, and vagina. We are finding out every day how good bacteria help us thrive and survive and will see much more information come out in the future.
