Truth About Probiotic Bacteria – Helpful or Harmful

Aayushi Gaur, U.I.E.T, Kurukshetra University

The father of probiotics, Élie Metchnikoff, hypothesized the favorable effects of ingesting good bacteria, such as those in yogurt, on human health. Probiotic research has exploded since then, and probiotics have grown into a multibillion-dollar business.

Introduction to Probiotics-

We’ve all heard of the words ‘probiotics’ and ‘prebiotics’. Prebiotics are plant-based foods that supply fibers and other nutrients, which are required for the growth of the desired ‘good’ bacteria. They tip the scales in favor of good bacteria over bad bacteria. On the other hand, probiotics are living bacteria or other microorganisms that colonize the gut and compete with the “bad” bacteria. Yogurt, vitamins, and even skin treatments include these ingredients. So when these substances should be consumed or avoided?

When most people think of bacteria, they conjure up images of disease-causing pathogens. Our bodies, on the other hand, contain a slew of germs that are crucial to our existence. They assist with food digestion, produce vitamins, and neutralize disease-causing bacteria, among other things. If you’re wondering what microorganisms are contained in probiotics, they’re the same bacteria that live in our stomachs. The Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species are the most prevalent.

Probiotics are considered to aid in the creation of a healthier host-microbiome environment. These organisms accomplish this by outcompeting dangerous bacteria, typically by generating compounds that prevent pathogenic bacteria from growing.

Furthermore, research shows that probiotics might boost the immunological response of the host, allowing patients to reclaim their microbiota after a stressful event like an illness.

Perks of Probiotics-

Patients with Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may benefit from probiotics, according to a preliminary study. Similarly, there is evidence that supplementing with probiotics can help reduce diarrhea caused by illnesses or antibiotics. This is because both diarrhea and antibiotic therapy can disrupt the microbial balance in the human gut.

In these cases, taking probiotics is considered to be one approach to reestablish the balance between “good” and “bad” bacteria in the gut. Studies on diarrhea in children, particularly when induced by rotavirus infection, provide some of the most persuasive data in support of probiotic supplementation. Probiotics reduced the duration of infectious diarrhea episodes by half to two days in these trials.

Antibiotics can cause diarrhea by disrupting the gut microbiome’s usual balance of “good” and “bad” bacteria. According to numerous studies, probiotics given before, during, and after antibiotic treatment can lower the risk of diarrhea. However, studies on the effectiveness of probiotics in preventing traveler’s diarrhea have yielded conflicting findings. Numerous studies have demonstrated that probiotics can help prevent Clostridium difficile infection as well as prevent infection recurrence.

Although most probiotic research has focused on patients with illnesses, there is evidence that probiotic supplementation in healthy people can result in favorable health effects. Consumption of probiotics has been shown to improve immunological response, as well as the gastrointestinal and reproductive health of women. Supplementing with probiotics has been found to enhance stool consistency, bowel regularity, and vaginal lactobacilli concentrations. Probiotics are usually regarded as safe for healthy people. If there are any side effects, they are usually minor and include gas and other stomach problems.

Drawbacks of Probiotics-

Although probiotics have been shown to improve human health, using probiotic supplements should be avoided. Individuals with underlying medical conditions, such as those with weakened immune systems, ill newborns, and those recuperating from surgery, are more vulnerable. There is evidence that taking probiotics might cause serious adverse effects in some people, including deadly infections. Furthermore, according to a new study from Washington University in St. Louis, MO, probiotics can change in the host gut after delivery, becoming less beneficial and perhaps more dangerous.

In this study, researchers looked at how probiotic microbes evolved in laboratory mice under various stresses and deduced that antibiotic resistance can emerge in probiotics. They also showed that these bacteria can adapt to thrive on a wider number of accessible sugars, allowing them to stay in the gut for extended periods and proliferate unchecked. It was also discovered that probiotics may develop rapidly and compete better with existing gut flora, allowing them to “beat” the current occupants and become the gut’s dominant species.

Conclusion-

Considering various facets of probiotics, it can be concluded that it’s impossible to label probiotics as completely healthy or completely detrimental. Probiotics may be extremely beneficial and a fantastic therapeutic tool to keep around if taken in the right circumstances and for the right reasons. Those with underlying medical concerns, on the other hand, should proceed with caution when considering taking a probiotic supplement.

So, before you go for that over-the-counter bottle of probiotics, consider this: Is it really necessary? Do the advantages outweigh the dangers?

Also read: Being RED keeps the Salt marsh harvest mouse ALIVE!

REFERENCES:

1. Friedman, G., 2012. The Role of Probiotics in the Prevention and Treatment of Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea and Clostridium Difficile Colitis. Gastroenterology Clinics of North America, 41(4), pp.763-779. DOI: 10.1016/j.gtc.2012.08.002
2. Allen, S., Wareham, K., Wang, D., Bradley, C., Hutchings, H., Harris, W., Dhar, A., Brown, H., Foden, A., Gravenor, M. and Mack, D., 2013. Lactobacilli and bifidobacteria in the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea and Clostridium difficile diarrhoea in older inpatients (PLACIDE): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre trial. The Lancet, 382(9900), pp.1249-1257. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(13)61218-0
3. Auclair, J., Frappier, M. and Millette, M., 2015. Lactobacillus acidophilus CL1285, Lactobacillus casei LBC80R, and Lactobacillus rhamnosus CLR2 (Bio-K+): Characterization, Manufacture, Mechanisms of Action, and Quality Control of a Specific Probiotic Combination for Primary Prevention of Clostridium difficile Infection. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 60(suppl_2), pp.S135-S143. DOI: 10.1093/cid/civ179
4. Mahmoud, S. (2019, April 9). Benefits and drawbacks of probiotics: How much is too much? MDLinx. Benefits and drawbacks of probiotics: How much is too much? | MDLinx

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