Scientists have been unclear for some time about how most probiotics work. A new study has found a scientific �design� for a probiotic that could be used to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), such as Crohn�s disease.
The research by academics at the University of Bristol�s School of Veterinary Sciences and School of Clinical Medicine is published online in the journal PLoS ONE.
Most probiotics on the market, such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, are lactic acid bacteria. Although probiotics have been shown to successfully maintain remission in IBD, evidence of their effectiveness in active disease is rare. The researchers have found that this is because an increase in iron levels, which happens during active IBD, inhibits the growth of probiotic bacteria, including Lactobacillus.
Iron levels increase in the intestine during inflammation, bleeding, during stress and when people are taking iron supplements. Iron is critically important to the growth of most species of bacteria, including pathogens, and its availability is what restricts their growth. It is well known that pathogens increase growth rate by up to 8,000 times when exposed to increased levels of iron. Lactic acid bacteria are unusual as they have evolved not to require iron, and so do not increase growth rate when exposed to it.
Dr Tristan Cogan, Research Fellow in the School of Veterinary Sciences, said: �When we started our study we considered the properties that a probiotic would need to treat IBD. Most importantly, it would need to be able to survive and grow in the presence of high levels of iron and to reduce inflammation. We then worked out how to test bacteria to see whether it had these properties.
�The difficult step was finding a bacterium that had all of the properties that we wanted. Now we have found something that looks like it should work, our next step will be to test the probiotic in clinical trials.�
The researchers found that a range of probiotic strains of lactic acid bacteria cannot respond to increased iron levels. The study then identified a strain, which the academics have patented, that can and showed that it has probiotic and immunomodulatory properties, and can reduce pro-inflammatory responses to pathogens associated with IBD.
The researchers suggest that iron response is the factor that prevents probiotics from being useful in treating disease, and that their bacterium could be a novel probiotic treatment for active intestinal disease.
Paper: Identification and characterisation of an iron-responsive candidate probiotic, Jennifer R. Bailey, Christopher S.J. Probert and Tristan A. Cogan, PloS ONE, published 19 October 2011.
So is these merely the identification of a probiotic that is already around or the development through genetic engineering of a new probiotic that can thrive in the presence of high levels of iron?
Essentially it comes down to this IBS, modulate the immune system, feed the body correctly and take mms to signficantly decrease the pathogenic load in the gut along with supplement with normal flora. There are other things that can be done to assist too but adding a foreign flora should not be one of them.
I am very skeptical about manufactured flora. I do believe that they are playing with fire and this is why I am not enthusiastic for Activa, a probiotic with a flora called Regularis.... after repeated attempts to contact the company to determine if Regularis is a manufactured flora my requests have fallen on deaf ears.. to me no answer is an admission of guilt. Regularis does stimulate the bowels to evacuate and in some of the most persistent constipation cases at that... but what the hell is it and where did it come from?
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but what the hell is it and where did it come from?
In this case they identified
Quote:
an isolate of Streptococcus thermophilus that can increase growth rate in response to increased iron availability. The isolate of S. thermophilus selected was able to reduce epithelial cell death as well as NF-κB signalling and IL-8 production triggered by pathogens.
IP6 shines when it comes to alternative treatment of cancer, including IBS. Phytic acid has an affinity to metals, but more so the heavy metals especially iron. It seems I read somewhere the cancer seems to have iron in it or around it as if it were fuel.
I'd rather take IP6 occasionally, several times per year, than to depend upon a bacterium. I take so much destructive stuff, like coconut oil, olive leaf extract, colloidal silver, garlic, etc. You know? I don't know how even probiotics can live in me for very long without supplementation.
Thank you for your interest in this research. I am part of the team that is developing this probiotic. Just to clarify, in no way is this a genetically modified strain of bacteria, it is a pre-existing, naturally occurring strain. We identified a number of properties which an ideal probiotic should have and then screened a large number of strains in order to find one which fulfilled this criteria.
Thank you for your interest in this research. I am part of the team that is developing this probiotic. Just to clarify, in no way is this a genetically modified strain of bacteria, it is a pre-existing, naturally occurring strain. We identified a number of properties which an ideal probiotic should have and then screened a large number of strains in order to find one which fulfilled this criteria.
Thank you Jennifer for your clarification and joining this discussion.
I think it's a fascinating area of research and although we have learn't a lot recently there is still an enormous amount of work to do. Cooling Inflammation was my introduction to the world of gut flora
By applying what Dr Ayers has talked about I've been able to change my gut flora so the previous pathogenic strain of E Coli that caused constant repeat UTI is no longer able to dominate. Despite having to self-catheterize I've now gone several years without any UTI (and no colds/flu either) Getting off and staying off antibiotics does enable one to recreate a healthy gut fora over time. If only women understood the benefits of vaginal delivery over C Section for transferring mothers gut flora and the importance for children in staying off antibiotics to enable a healthy gut flora to establish we would have healthier, less asthmatic and less obese children.
Nineteen studies were included, encompassing 2,609 IBD patients (1,269 Crohn's disease (CD) and 1,340 ulcerative colitis (UC) patients) and over 4,000 controls. Studies reported a positive association between high intake of saturated fats, monounsaturated fatty acids, total polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), total omega-3 fatty acids, omega-6 fatty acids, mono- and disaccharides, and meat and increased subsequent CD risk.Studies reported a negative association between dietary fiber and fruits and subsequent CD risk. High intakes of total fats, total PUFAs, omega-6 fatty acids, and meat were associated with an increased risk of UC. High vegetable intake was associated with a decreased risk of UC.
CONCLUSIONS:
High dietary intakes of total fats, PUFAs, omega-6 fatty acids, and meat were associated with an increased risk of CD and UC. High fiber and fruit intakes were associated with decreased CD risk, and high vegetable intake was associated with decreased UC risk.
Well, vaginal delivery may be of some assistance, but ultimatley it is breast feeding that will provide the child with the flora it needs. Both of my kids were delivered by c section and they were breast fed. They had no gut issues every. They also learned to eat veggies and in raw form at a young age and this will promote gut flora also... as well as yogurt products. After breast feeding things need to be incorporated into the diet continually to promote healthy gut flora.
They also learned to eat veggies and in raw form at a young age
Also the physical exercise for babies to chew/suck and the eye/hand/mouth coordination required to consume sticks of raw veggies/fruits also helps strengthen the jaw and widen the palate.
Could a probiotic be used to treat inflammatory bowel disease?
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