The ‘Pro’s of GI Health: Probiotcs and Digestion

Hundreds of bacteria species reside in the human digestive tract gut; some are potentially pathogenic or putrefactive, and others are friendly. Beneficial bacteria, often known as probiotics, can be defined as live microorganisms in a supplement or food form that when administered in adequate amounts exert health effects on the host when consistently ingested. “Naturally occurring, non-genetically modified probiotics are shown in research to support healthy digestion, improve resistance to overpopulation of pathogenic bacteria in the gut, strengthen the body’s natural resistance and much more,” Tim Gamble, vice president sales and marketing, Nutraceutix, said.

Probiotics have garnered more mainstream acceptance, thanks in part to marketing campaigns from mega-brands entering the functional food category with items such as Danone’s Activia® yogurt and Yoplait’s Yo-Plus™. According to the technical research report, “The Probiotics Market: Ingredients, Supplements, Foods” from BBC Research, the global market for probiotic ingredients is on an upward swing. It is expected to be worth $15.9 billion in 2008 and reach $19.6 billion in 2013.

Its popularity can also be attributed to the growing amount of research suggesting probiotics can lower the risk or limit the progression of digestive ailments, including constipation and diarrhea, IBS, general intestinal viruses and antibiotic-associated infections. “Probiotics offer the consumer more than just taking the revenge away from Montezuma,” said Frank Hodal, founder and CEO, Little Calumet Holdings. “People are discovering that probiotics work in helping them feel better.”

The benefits manifest from cradle to grave. Studies have found providing Lactobacillus reuteri (L reuteri) to infants can reduce regurgitation, increase the gastric emptying rate and increase number of stools.(1) Probiotics may support children’s oral health,(2) positively impact respiratory function,(3) prevent atopic conditions such as eczema,(4) and reduce the incidence of GI infections and diarrhea.(5) In addition, probiotics appear specifically beneficial in reducing incidence of antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) in children.(6)

Probiotics have added benefits for adults and those suffering from particular GI conditions. For example, studies have shown certain probiotics have therapeutic effects in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and treatment of intestinal infections.(7,8) Probiotics may also have an anti-carcinogenic effect in the colon, possibly by aiding in detoxification of genotoxins in the gut.(9) S.K. Dash, Ph.D., president, UAS Laboratories, noted in his book, A Consumer’s Guide to Probiotics (Freedom Press, 2005), that probiotics do have a clear role to play in prevention of colon cancer. He wrote: “We don’t know precisely how probiotics exert their anti-cancer benefits, but believe that by enhancing populations of bifidobacteria, this may result in direct removal of procarcinogens, indirect removal of procarcinogens, or activation of the body’s immune system.”