Beneficial Bacteria Heals Intestines
pautrey2
Posted by: Dr. Mercola
August 13 2000 | 7,058 views
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2000/08/13/probiotics-intestines.aspx
High doses of probiotics, the beneficial bacteria that naturally lives
in the intestinal tract, help control pouchitis, an inflammation of
the small intestine common in patients with inflammatory bowel
disease, a new study reports. To summarize:
•As many as 50% of patients who undergo surgery for ulcerative
colitis, develop pouchitis afterwards
•Symptoms of pouchitis include:
■frequent and urgent bowel movements
■abdominal cramping
■bleeding
■fever
•Most cases of pouchitis respond well temporarily to treatment with
antibiotics, but the condition recurs 2 out of 3 times.
•Pouchitis has been linked to reduced levels of some bacteria normally
found in the intestinal tract.
•In the study, 20 patients with chronic pouchitis received high-dose
probiotics, while a 'control' group of another 20 patients received a
placebo.
•Throughout the 9 months of treatment, 85% of the probiotic group
remained symptom-free, as determined with endoscopies and histological
testing every 2 months.
•All 20 people in the placebo group relapsed.
•The probiotic preparation used contained 500 billion organisms per
gram including 4 strains of lactobacilli, 3 strains of bifidobacteria,
and 1 strain of Streptococcus salivarius subsp. thermophilus
•Patients each received 6 grams daily of the probiotic.
•Fecal concentration of lactobacilli, bifidobacteria, and S.
thermophilus increased significantly in those taking the probiotics.
•Benefits of the probiotics lasted only as long as patients continued
taking them, with all patients relapsing within 4 months of
discontinuation.
The researchers state that long-term use of the probiotics is safe.
"Because it is a more natural therapy that enhances the body's normal
protective factors, it has no side effects and can be administered for
years."
Gastroenterology August 2000;119:305-309
Dr. Mercola's Comments:
I am not a big fan of nutritional supplementation the way it is
currently practiced by most natural medicine clinicians. They tend to
use vitamins, minerals and herbs as replacements for drugs. Certainly
targeted nutritional interventions are safer and a far better choice
than drugs in nearly every case. However, unless one is actively
addressing the CAUSE of the problem they will likely require the
supplements long-term.
Probiotics (beneficial bacteria) seem to be an exception. It is the
ONLY supplement I recommend for ALL new patients (unless of course
they are already on one). I don't believe that they need to stay on it
the rest of their life, but 1-3 months is usually beneficial until
they are able to get their diet improved.
Probiotics are incredible healing agents and they seem to work to
resolve most cases of acute infectious diarrhea relatively quickly. I
normally advise people to take a dose every 30-60 minutes until the
diarrhea resolves. It is quite amazing how consistently effective this
recommendation is. Check out my recommendation for high quality
probiotics now.
Related Articles:
When To Take Good Bacteria When On Antibiotics
Good Bacteria Importance
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2000/08/13/probiotics-intestines.aspx
Stephen Wilson
Autism
What's the evidence for special diets and supplements?
There hasn't been much good research on changing what your child eats or
giving him or her supplements to treat autism.
We found one summary of the research (a systematic review) of diets that cut
out casein and gluten. The review found just two small studies. The studies
showed the diets seemed to help with some symptoms of autism, but not
others. The review's authors said there was not enough good-quality evidence
to say whether or not the diets work.
We found two good-quality studies on vitamin B6 plus magnesium. It didn't
seem to help. But the studies were small. Together, they had only 27
children. So the results aren't reliable.
We didn't find any good-quality studies of fish oil, vitamin A, vitamin C,
probiotics and digestive enzymes as treatments for children with autism.
Bob Badour
an identical post each time is spam. Plonk.
pautrey2
Posted by: Dr. Mercola