Probiotics: effective and safe?

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Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Probiotics: effective and safe?

By Zosimo T. Literatus, R.M.T.

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http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/ceb/2007/03/14/life/probiotics.effec

tive.and.safe..html

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PROBIOTICS is the use of live microorganisms to give or to support

health.

The most common microbes used as probiotic agents include bacteria

(e.g.

Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Enterococcus, Streptococcus, and

Escherichia) and fungi (e.g. Saccharomyces bourlardii). Although

reportedly used in the treatment of cancer, heart conditions, and

problems of the urinary-genital and immune systems, they are most

commonly used against gastrointestinal tract (GIT) disorders.

Take note that half of the wet weight of the body's solid waste is

due to normal intestinal flora (non-harmful bacteria), which are

important to the intestinal defense barriers. The flora also directs

the regulation of systemic and local immune responsiveness.

Probiotics simply enhances the efficacy of the flora through an

increased presence of friendly microbes in the intestines.

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In a 2006 review of probiotics studies, published in the Journal of

Physiology and Pharmacology, researchers led by Piotr B. Henczko

noted that Lactobacillus rhamnosus is effective in treating acute

infectious diarrhea (AID). Henczko is chief microbiologist at

Jagiellonian University (Cracow, Poland).

Lactobacillus reuteri, another probiotic, shortens the course of AID

in infants from 2.5 to 1.5 days. They also observed that, for every

seven patients, one patient does not develop antibiotic-associated

diarrhea when taking probiotics as well.

However, Henczko noted that there is no study showing probiotics as

the sole cause of these effects, which may be partly due to

intestinal Lactobacillus flora. " As the evidence is still limited,

caution should be exercised until these results are verified, " he

said.

" Treatment with probiotics is relatively safe, " said JM Saavedra, a

co-investigator in a 2004 study on the tolerance factor of infant

formulas containing probiotics, " but not risk- free. It is

potentially pathogenic. " Saavedra referred to a 2005 study headed by

P. Muñoz, which noted three patients who developed fungemia (fungi

in the blood) after ingesting Saccharomyces bourlardii and proven by

DNA fingerprinting.

Henczko does not recommend probiotics for immunocompromised or

immunosuppressed patients such as those receiving artificial

implants (e.g. central venous catheters and artificial heart

valves), those likely to develop infection (e.g. low white blood

cell count), very young infants and those having problems with bowel

movement. (For comments and suggestions, email to

ztliteratus6046@... or text to 0927-979-3519.)