Probiotics
Introduction
to Probiotics
• The term “probiotic,” which is derived from the Greek
word for life, “bios,” was invented in the middle of
the last century as a result of observing the
beneficial influence of certain microorganisms on
the intestinal flora (1).
• In recent years, using modern techniques, scientists
have gained more understanding about the
composition of the normal microflora in humans (2)
and about ways in which it forms a real defense
barrier (3).
Your immune
system
• The body has a number of very complex
defense systems, which it uses to either
destroy the aggressive agent or to minimize or
repair the consequences of harmful actions.
• Pathogenic bacteria and viruses are kept away
form the body by the barriers formed by the
skin, mucosa and intestinal flora.
• If these physical barriers are overcome, the
immune system and its many components
spring into action in order to stem infection.
Your Gut’s Defense System
• The defense system in the gut can be split into three
lines: (3)
– the gut flora
– the gut mucosa and epithelium
– the related immune system
Probiotic advantages
to your GUT
• Probiotics have been
shown to protect their
host against microbial
pathogens (4)(5).
• Probiotics can render
specific binding-sites
unavailable (6).
• Probiotics can reduce the
luminal pH leading to a
reduction in colonic pH
and thus…
• …inhibit growth of
anaerobic bacteria (7).
• Probiotics have been
studied for their
production of specific
antimicrobial substances
(8).
• Probiotics have
demonstrated their ability
to reduce the activity of
procarcinogenic
enzymes (9)(10).
Your Intestinal Epithelium
• The surface of the Epithelium consists of intestinal
glycoconjugates made up of mucus gel. These
mucins and glycoconjugates play a key role in the
barrier effect. (3)
Probiotic advantages to
your Epithelium
• Several studies have
demonstrated that
specific bacterial
species are able to
stimulate mucus
secretion (11) (12).
• One study has recently
shown a direct probiotic
effect through the
induction of intestinal
mucin gene expression
in epithelial cells (13).
Your Immune System
• The mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue contains
around 80% of cells within the immune system. This
Gut-associated Lymphoid Tissue (GALT) contains
more lymphocytes than all of the secondary
lymphoid organs combined (14).
Probiotic advantages to your
Immune System
• Consumption of lactic
acid bacteria may
modulate immune
response, which in turn
increases resistance to
immune-related
diseases (15)(16).
• Cytokine production,
antibody production
and NK cell population
have been show to
increase with yogurt
consumption (17).
So what does this mean for you?
Asthma, Eczema &
Allergies
• Daily feeding of two capsules containing 1010 of the
Lactobacillus strain to pregnant mothers who had at
least one first degree relative with atopic eczema,
severe allergies, or asthma and after birth to the
mother and to the babies for 6 months significantly
reduced these incidences.
– This is significant because the study implies a
better functioning modulation of immunity. This
effect has also been show to remain effective at
4-year follow ups (18).
Bodily Infections
• The immune response within the gastrointestinal
tract is a fine balance between the release of
proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines. In
a review on mucosal immunity starting at birth,
Walker reported a correlation between normal gut
microbiota and protection against various infections.
– This is an important observation because it
supports the concept of early intestinal
colonization with organisms such as lactobacilli
and bifidobacteria and possibly subsequent
protection from many different types of diseases
(18).
Candida Yeast
• Candida albicans (Candida yeast) are suspect for
causing many chronic problems today. An influx of
these albicans in ones’ system have been blamed
for causing the following symptoms, but are not
limited to those mentioned:
–
–
–
–
–
–
Migraines
Feelings of lethargy
Recurring fever blisters and canker soars
Acid indigestion
Yeast infections
Other fungus related infections on the skin.
Candida is now being studied for its involvement in
individuals with suppressed immune systems (19).
Candida Cont.
• Recent studies show that
Lactobacillus acidophilus
is protective against
Candida albicans.
• The results of one such
study shows an inhibition
of Candida growth over
Lactobacillus cultures (20).
Cancer
• The ability of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria to modify
the gut microbiota and reduce the risk of cancer is in
part due to their ability to decrease β-glucoronidase
and carcinogen levels.
• In vitro studies with L. rhamnosus and bifidobacteria
and an in vivo study with L rhamnosus showed a
decrease in availability of carcinogenic aflatoxin in
the lumen (21).
Conclusion
Thanks to our system of overlapping defense
strategies, the intestine is far from a simple tube
through which nutrients are absorbed. It is our first
and principal system of defense against the different
forms of aggression to which the body is subjected
to every day. Optimal functioning of these three
lines of defense are being discovered as essentials
to good health!
References
1. Corthier G. What is a Probiotic? Nutritopics Digestive
System Ecology Physiology 2004; 29: 1-17.
2. Kleessen B, Bezirtzoglou E, Matto J. Culture-based
knowledge on biodiversity, development and stability
of human gastrointestinal microflora. Microbiology
Ecology Health Dis 2000; Suppl 2:53-63.
3. Reid G, Howard J & Siang Gan B. Can bacterial
interference prevent infection? Trends in
Microbiology 2001; 9 (9): 424-428.
References
4. Brook I. Bacterial Interference. Critical Review
Microbiology 1999. 25: 155-172.
5. Wilhelm M, Lee D, Rosenblatt J. Bacterial
Interference by anaerobic species isolated from
human feces. European J Clinical Microbiology
1987; 6(3): 266-270.
6. Chauviere G, Coconnier MH, Kerneis S, DarfeuilleMichaud A, Joly B & Servin AL. Competitive
exclusion of diarrheagenic Escherichia Coli (ETEC)
from human enterocyte-like Caco-2 cells by heat
killed Lactobacillus. FEMS Microbiology Letters
1992; 70:213-217.
References
7. Tannock GW. Control of gastrointestinal pathogens
by normal flora. In: Klug MJ, Reddy CA, eds. Current
perspectives in Microbial Ecology. Washington DC:
American Society for Microbiology 1984, pp. 374382.
8. Fons M, Gomez A & Karjalainen T. Mechanisms of
colonisation and colonisation resistance of the
digestive tract. Microbial Ecology Health Dis 2000;
Suppl. 2: 240-246.
9. Goldin BR & Gorbach SL. LAterations in faecal
microflora enzymes related to diet, age, Lactobacillus
supplements and dimethylhydrazine. Cancer 1977;
40:2421-2426.
References
10. Sreekumar O & Hosono A. Immediate effect of
Lactobacillus acidophilus on the intestinal flora and faecal
enzymes of rats and the in vitro inhibition of Escherichia
coli coculture. J Dairy Science 2000; 83: 931-939.
11. Bernet MF, Brassart D, Neeser JR & Servin AL.
Lactobacillus acidophilus LAI binds to cultured human
intestinal cell lines and inhibits cell attachment and cell
invasion by enterovirulent bacteria. Gut 1994; 35: 483489.
12. Hollingsworth M, Strawhecker T, Caffrey T & Mack
D. Expression of MUCI, MUC2, MUC3 and MUC4
mucin mRNAs in human pancreatic and intestinal
tumor cell lines. Int J Cancer 1994; 57: 198-203.
References
13. Mack DR, Michail S, Wei S, McDougall L &
Hollingsworth MA. Probiotics inhibit
enteropathogenic E. coli ahderence in vitro by
inducing intestinal mucin gene expression. Am J
Physiol 1999; 276: G941-G950.
14. Ogra et al. Mucosal Immunology. Adademic Press,
1999.
15. Marteau P, Vaerman J-P, Dehennin J-P, Bord S,
Brassart D, Pochart P, Desjeux J-F, Rambaud J-C.
Effects of intrajejunal perfusion and chronic ingestion
of Lactobacillus johnsonii strain Lal on serum
concentrations and jejunal secretions of
immunoglobins and serum proteins in healthy
humans. Gastrointestinal Clin Biol 1997; 21(4): 293298.
References
16. Vitini E, Alvarez S, Median M, Medici M, Budeguer M
& Perdigon G. Gut mucosal immunostimulation by
lactic acid bacteria. Biocell 2001; 24 (3): 223-232.
17. Aattouri N & Lemonnier D. Production of interferon
induced by Steptococcus thermophilus: role of CD4+
and CD8+ lymphocytes. Nutr BIochem 1997;8:25-31.
18. Reid G, Jass J, Sebulsky T & McCormick J. Potential
Uses of Probiotics in Clinical Practice. Clinical
Microbiology Review 2003; 16(4): 658-672.
19. Strus M, Kucharska A, Kukla G, Brzychczy-Wlcoh M,
Maresz K & Heczko P. The in vitro activity of
Lactobacillus with probiotic properties against
Candida. Infectious Disease in Obstetrics 2005;
13(2): 69-75.
References
20. Jabra-Rizk M, Ferreira S, Sabet M, Falker W, Merz
W, Meiller T. Recovery of Candida dubliniensis and
other Yeasts from Human Immunodeficiency VirusAssociated Periodontal Lesions. American Society for
Microbiology 2001; 39(2): 4520-4522.
21. Hoa N, Baccigalupi L, Huxham A, Smertenko A, Van
PH, Ammendola S, Ricca E, Cutting SM.
Characterization of Bacillus Species used for Oral
Bacteriotherapy and Bacterioprophylaxis of
Gastrointestinal Disorders. Applied Environmental
Microbiology 2000; 66(12): 5241-5247.