http://home.caregroup.org/clinical/a...otic_Intes.htm
chemistry/function:
The intestinal flora is made up of many kinds of living bacteria that have a symbiotic relationship with the rest of the body. At least 400 friendly species exist; L. acidophilus and B.bifidus are principal species that have been linked with successful rebuilding of friendly gut flora and which are available in supplement form. L. acidophilus and B. bifidus may produce B vitamins including niacin, folic acid, biotin, and B6, as well as vitamin K
In addition to providing the body with useful nutrients, probiotics inhibit pathogenic bacteria in the gut in multiple ways:
• They secrete various substances, such as lactic and acetic acids, to decrease the pH of the gastrointestinal tract and vagina, rendering them less hospitable to pathogenic bacteria.
• They also secrete bacteriocins, natural antibiotics that kill undesirable bacteria.
For example, bacteria inhibited by L. acidophilus include: Bacillus subtilis, B. cereus, B. stearothermophilus, Candida albicans, Clostridium perfringens, Escheria coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, L.bulgaricus, L. fermenti, L. helveticus, L. lactis, L. leichmannii, L. plantarum, Proteus vulgaricus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, P. fluorescens, Salmonella typhosa, S. schottmuelleri, Shigella dysenteriae, S. paradysenteriae, S. paradysenteriae, Sarcina lutea, Serratia marcescens, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus faecalis, S. lactis, Vibrio comma.
dietary sources:
Primarily found in fermented food such as yogurt, cheese, miso and tempeh. However, most fermented foods are made with L. bulgaricus or Streptococcus thermophilus. While these are friendly, beneficial microorganisms, they do not perform long-term colonization of the gut; therefore, they are not as effective as probiotic supplements at re-establishing populations of friendly bacteria.
deficiency:
A poor diet and/or antibiotic therapy are associated with a probiotic deficiency. Diarrhea, poor digestion and flatulence are frequent symptoms of deficiency.
known or potential therapeutic uses:
Allergies, candidiasis, colon cancer prevention, constipation, diarrhea, food sensitivities, intestinal dysbiosis, intestinal flora imbalance, irritable bowel syndrome, lactose intolerance, lowered immune function, urinary tract infections, vaginal yeast infections.
maintenance dose: Optimal levels of intake have not been established. A gastrointestinal tract that has a balanced, established flora, supported by a healthy diet, does not normally require supplementation. However, the presence of antibiotics in meats and other parts of the food supply may suggest a need for intermittent replenishment of viable enteric cultures. Large-scale replenishment after use of antibiotics will reduce the risk of opportunistic overgrowth of candida albicans and associated pathogens.
therapeutic dose: A supplemental dosage of at least one billion organisms per day is necessary to achieve the critical mass of bacterial restoration and successfully reinvigorate healthy intestinal ecology.
there is a huge amount of clinical information located on one page
therefore you can locate it and see that many clinical studies have shown this information to be absolutely true...
http://home.caregroup.org/clinical/a...otic_Intes.htm
a few studies examples :
References
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Bennet JD, Brinkman M. Lancet. 1989 Jan 21;1(8630):164. (Letter)
Abstract: JDB had continuously active, severe UC for 7 years confirmed endoscopically and histologically. The condition was refractory to standard management including steroids and sulphasalazine and every time daily prednisone dosage was reduced below 30mg severe symptoms (bloody diarrhea, cramping tenesmus, skin lesions and arthritis recurred. For the past 4 years symptoms had been controlled with 4.2gms of alpha tocopherylquinone and a low fat diet. When the tocopheryl was discontinued or reduced, symptoms returned within 1-2 days. With a protocol developed to sterilize the bowel before surgery, his flora was greatly reduced. The donor flora was introduced by large volume retention enemas. 1 wk later tocopheryls were discontinued without any recurrence of symptoms. It has now been 6 months since this implantation of normal flora and patient has been symptom free for the first time in 11 years without any medications. 3 months after the implantation, colonic biopsy revealed chronic inflammatory cells but no active inflammation.
Berg, R, Bernasconi, P, Fowler, D, Gautreaux, M. Inhibition of Candida albicans translocation from the gastrointestinal tract of mice by oral administration of Saccharomyces boulardii. J Infect Dis 1993;168:1314-1318.
Bernet, MF, Brassart, D, Neeser, JR, Servin, AL. Lactobacillus acidophilus LA 1 binds to human intestinal lines and inhibits cell attachment and cell invasion by enterovirulent bacteria. Gut 1994;35:483-489.
Bleichner, G, Blehaut, H, Meutec, H, Moyse, D. Saccharomyces boulardii prevents diarrhea in critically ill tube-fed patients. A multicenter, randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Intensive Care Med 1997;23:517-523.
Blomberg, L, Henriiksson, A, Conway, PL. Inhibition of adhesion of Escherichia coli K88 to piglet ileal mucus by lactobacilli species. Appl Environ Microbiol 1993;59:34-39.
Boddy, AV, Elmer, GW, McFarland, LV, Levy, RH. Influence of antibiotics on the recovery and kinetics of Saccharomyces boulardii in rats. Pharm Res 1991;8:796-800.
Buts, JP, Bernasconi, P, Van Craynest, MP, et al. Response of human and rat small intestinal mucosa to oral administration of Saccharomyces boulardii. Pediatr Res 1986;20:192-196.
Buts, JP, Bernasconi, P, Vaerman, JP, Dive, C. Stimulation of secretory IgA and secretory component of immunoglobulins in small intestine of rats treated with Saccharomyces boulardii. Dig Dis Sci 1990;35:251-256.
Caetano, JA, Parames, MT, Babo, MJ, et al. Immunopharmacological effects of Saccharomyces boulardii in healthy human volunteers. Int J Immunopharmacol 1986;8:245-259.
Charteris WP, Kelly PM, Morelli L, Collins JK. Antibiotic susceptibility of potentially probiotic Bifidobacterium isolates from the human gastrointestinal tract. Lett Appl Microbiol. 1998 May;26(5):333-337.
Sixteen Bifidobacterium isolates from the human gastrointestinal tract were assayed for susceptibility to 44 antibiotics by soft agar overlay disc diffusion on TPY agar. Five isolates (3/7 B. bifidum and 2/3 B. breve) exhibited atypical antibiotic susceptibility profiles. Poor growth in the agar overlay accounted for susceptibility of B. bifidum but not B. breve isolates. All other isolates were resistant to cefoxitin (30 micrograms), aztreonam (30 micrograms), vancomycin (30 micrograms), amikacin (30 micrograms), gentamicin (10 micrograms), kanamycin (30 micrograms), streptomycin (10 micrograms), fusidic acid (10 micrograms), trimethoprim (5 micrograms), norfloxacin (10 micrograms), nalidixic acid (30 micrograms), metronidazole (5 micrograms), polymyxin B (300 micrograms) and colistin sulphate (10 micrograms), and they were susceptible to the six penicillins studied, cephalothin (30 micrograms), cefuroxime (30 micrograms), cefaclor (30 micrograms), ceftizoxime (30 micrograms), cefotaxime (30 micrograms), bacitracin (10 micrograms), chloramphenicol (30 micrograms), erythromycin (15 micrograms), clindamycin (2 micrograms), rifampicin (5 micrograms) and nitrofurantoin (300 micrograms). In addition, they varied in their susceptibility to cephradine (30 micrograms), cephazolin (30 micrograms), cefoperazone (75 micrograms), ceftriaxone (30 micrograms), ofloxacin (5 micrograms) and furazolidone (15 micrograms). They were resistant, or only marginally moderately susceptible, to ceftazidime (30 micrograms), netilmicin (10 micrograms), sulphamethoxazole (100 micrograms), cotrimoxazole (25 micrograms) and ciprofloxacin (5 micrograms), and susceptible or marginally moderately susceptible to tetracycline (30 micrograms). All B. bifidum isolates were susceptible to cefixime (5 micrograms). Four microorganism-drug combinations were evaluated for beta-lactamase activity but its absence suggested that cell wall impermeability was responsible for cephalosporin resistance among bifidobacteria. The antibiotic susceptibility of B. animalis 25527T was similar to that of the human isolates.
Clements, ML, Levine, MM, Black, RE, et al. Lactobacillus prophylaxis for diarrhea due to enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 1981;20:104-108.