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In the early 1900s the Russian immunologist Elie
Metchnikoff theorized that taking yogurt with lactic-acid producing microorganisms throughout life
could be the primary factor explaining the difference in life expectancy among various ethnic
groups.
In a study published in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemistry (JAC), researchers explain
the idea that bacteria in fermented products help to balance out unhealthy microorganisms. This
helps the normal human microflora to continue to act as a strong barrier against illness-causing
microorganisms from both internal and external sources.
Every day people around the world come into contact with millions of microorganisms that can cause
infections. Thanks to the human immune system we’re normally able to successfully battle these
infections. The immune system is a network consisting of cells, tissues and organs. White blood
cells or leukocytes proactively destroy the microorganisms that cause disease or infections.
The two basic types of leukocytes are phagocytes, which destroy infections, and lymphocytes, which
help your body to recognize organisms you’ve been exposed to previously and to destroy them.
Lymphocytes are the cells that produce the antibodies, which continue to reside in your body and
make you immune to a particular disease or infection.
According to the JAC study, probiotics play several roles in boosting the immune system and
preventing or treating infections, beyond increasing the amount of healthy bacteria. Probiotics
limit the colonization or multiplication of disease-causing bacteria. They also produce
antimicrobial substances such as bacteriocins, organic acids and peptides.
The study also indicates that some strains of bacteria such as Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG)
have adjuvant-like effects. Basically this means that they make the immune system respond more
effectively to infections.
Studies show that probiotics can prevent or treat infections in the gastrointestinal tract such as
ulcers and viral gastroenteritis (or stomach flu). Other
research shows that LGG and Saccharomyces boulardii are also very effective in treating children
with diarrhea caused by rotavirus. Lactobacillus GG is also an effective treatment for diarrhea caused by antibiotic use.
Another study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition indicated that
taking the probiotics L. rhamnosus GR-1 and L. fermentum RC-14, which exist in the intestine and
vagina, orally can help to treat infections of
the urogenital tract, and keep it healthy.
The most common species of probiotics used in foods and supplements are Lactobacillus or
Bifidobacterium, or Streptococcus thermophilus. However, in many cases the probiotics in food have
been killed. When you’re choosing probiotics to boost your immune system and fight infections, look
for those with “live bacteria.”
Sources:
Journal of
Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (2002) 50, 625-627. Probiotics in human infections
Å. Sullivan and C. E. Nord.
http://jac.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/50/5/625#DKF194C6
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 73, No. 2, 437S-443s,
February 2001 Probiotic agents to protect the urogenital tract against infection. Gregor
Reid.
http://jac.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/50/5/625#DKF194C6
Next:
Probiotics and Eczema
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