Probiotics in Diseases

It is a good bit easier to study a probiotic preparation in a well-defined group of patients with a specific disorder. So many probiotic manufacturers have begun to do such testing. Each will use its own group of bacteria, 1, 2 or even 6 or 8. They use their own dosages as well. So trying to compare one study with another becomes difficult to say the least. Having said that, there does appear to be positive and beneficial results occurring in certain situations.

Probiotics and Intestinal infections in infants and children – When certain probiotics are used in these cases, the infection appears to clear more rapidly and completely.

Probiotics and Intestinal infection in the adult by clostridium difficile bacteria – This C. diff (as we call it) infection is rampant in hospitals and is increasing in the community. It is particularly common after colon surgery and antibiotic use. Some very clear benefits have been noted when certain probiotics are used in treating the infection.

Probiotics and Pouchitis – With certain types of colon surgery, the surgeon may create a pouch just within the rectum, using a portion of the small intestine. This pouch can become infected with bacteria. Certain probiotics seem to be helpful.

Probiotics and Antibiotic use – When an antibiotic is used for anything, it will indiscriminately kill many colon bacteria as well. When this happens, other resistant and sometimes nasty, bacteria grow to fill the void. Many physicians, especially pediatricians, are now using probiotics to prevent such problems.

Probiotics and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) – We now know that the makeup of colon bacteria is different in IBS patients. There are some early studies that suggest that symptoms such as bloating and abdominal discomfort may be helped with one type of tested probiotic.

Probiotics and Colon polyps and cancer – There are no medical studies or evidence that probiotics are helpful in patients who have had colon polyps or cancer.

Probiotics and Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease – There are some early reports, mostly for ulcerative colitis and pouchitis patients, that there may be benefits with some probiotics. However, there have been four different bacteria or formulas used so we still do not have clear guidelines.

Probiotics and Allergies – There are some very interesting reports of treating expectant mothers and newborns with certain probiotics. Innfants who were determined to be at risk for early allergies seem to have a significant reduction in the development of allergies. This is very early, but still very promising work.

Probiotics and Immune factors – The word immune and immunity has been used by many in the dietary supplement field as a buzz word, implying mysterious benefits for the immune system. The fact remains that the immune system of the gut is incredibly robust and intense in most people. It is very hard to prove that it needs to be, or even can be improved by taking a pill. Having said that, there is a great deal of research that has shown that when the bacterial makeup is pushed in the right direction, such as by taking probiotics or prebiotics, that certain measurable immune factors are enhanced. The exact meaning of this research and its practical application are still uncertain.