Peachy the Magazine October/November 2013

Probiotics 101 Probiotics may be used to maintain a health balanced intestinal environment. Consulting a physician knowledgeable in the use of probiotics is recommended to optimize their use. Patients who want to favorably improve their intestinal micro flora should choose a formulation including Lactobacillus (l.acidophilus;l.bulgaricus), Bifidobacterium (b.bifidus) and Saccharomyces (s.boulardii) species. In general a minimal dose of 1 billion colonies (CFUs) is needed to deliver adequate numbers of viable bacteria to the GI tract. A common dose is usually 5 billion CFUs daily in non-disease states. There is a trend towards higher doses and they do appear safe but should be limited to special circumstances. In certain disease states, higher doses may be recommended but only with physician monitoring. When taken with antibiotics for prevention of secondary diarrhea the daily dose should be doubled or tripled (10–15 billion CFUs) There are disagreements on when to take a probiotic but researchers involved in clinical trials suggest when administered with food there is documented significant benefits. It is best that they are not consumed with food warmer than room temperature. It is also generally recommended that the 98 PEACHY probiotic be consumed with a prebiotic. Prebiotics are considered “food sources” for the live bacterium. They are carbohydrates that are indigestible to the intestines and stimulate the activity and growth of the bacteria. They are commonly found in foods like asparagus, onions, garlic, leeks and soybeans as well as cow’s milk. Some formulations do include the prebiotic. In general it is recommended that the probiotics are refrigerated when bought and then when stored. Though the bacteria are encapsulated for protection, they refrigeration will preserve their viability over time. Many store bought brands sold on shelves have been shown to have significantly reduced or absent activity. It is best when they are packaged in glass bottles to minimize exposure to air and moisture. Ingestion of probiotics is considered very safe. It is rare to experience side effects but when present they usually include gas, abdominal discomfort and diarrhea. These are felt to be related to the effect of the probiotics on pathogenic bacteria and usually resolve with time. It is hard to delineate if the probiotics are helping when first taken. Improvement or resolution of symptoms is the best indicator that the probiotics are working. This may take

Peachy the Magazine October/November 2013 | Page 98