Pro-Biotics - Bugs that Fight Infection

Taken from Pharmacist - Vol 22, No. 11, November 2003
Complementary Medicines - By Dr Ian Brighthope

The correct balance of microflora in the gastrointestinal system is fundamental to health maintenance and disease prevention. A healthy digestive tract with adequate mucous production and appropriate bacterial colonisation prevents the overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria, modulates disease processes and prevents widespread inflammatory disorders.

The main function of the gut flora, from the host’s point of view, is to prevent colonisation by potential pathogens. It does so by efficiently out-competing invading pathogens for ecological niches and metabolic substrates. Microbial metabolism also serves as an important source of energy for the gut wall, providing up to 50% of the daily energy requirements of colonocytes by
fermentation of carbohydrates to organic acids, mainly butyrate.

A number of factors can disrupt the delicate gut microbial balance. These include stress, lack of digestive secretions, poor diet (high sugar, high protein, high fat and low fibre), illness, food allergies and intolerances, ingestion of antibiotics and/or other medicines, harmful environmental conditions, chemotherapy and chronic disease (e.g. colon cancer and inflammatory bowel disease).

Addressing these major causes is the first aim in treatment. Recolonisation with the ‘right’ probiotics is then imperative to gastrointestinal health. Probiotic means ‘for life’, illustrating the health promoting effects of ‘friendly’ bacteria. The most important of these are Lactobacillus rhamnosus and the Bifidobacterium species.

The current interest in probiotics is considerable. The evidence for the efficacy of probiotic therapy in treating a number of conditions is accumulating. This applies not only to the gastrointestinal system, but also to a number of conditions where gut dysbiosis is an important underlying aetiological or aggravating factor (e.g. acne, migraine, constipation, food allergy, some auto-immune disorders and chronic fatigue syndrome).

Mannatech's research team have produced GI-Pro, which is a probiotic dietary supplement supporting health digestive flora.