Probiotics: their benefits

We all know that optimal health begins in the digestive system. In fact, the majority of our immune system is found in the digestive tract and around 90% of our serotonin, or our “happy hormone,” is also found in our intestines. If we want to feel our best and fight infections effectively, we need to make sure our digestive system is happy. What is surprising is the number of Canadians who suffer from digestive health problems. Right now, 5 million Canadians suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and approximately 120,000 people develop the condition each year, making it one of the highest proportions of the population in the world.

Over the past decade, probiotics have become the most popular product to help digestion. We quickly became inundated with a wide variety of probiotics, not only in supplements, but also in our foods. These bacteria are known to regulate digestion and the function of our intestines, fighting bad bacteria, producing nutrients, and many other beneficial functions. But not all probiotics are equal; some strains have significant therapeutic effects while others are simply healthy. In fact, new research on probiotics focuses less on probiotics in general and more on very specific strains for very specific functions.

At the heart of research into the benefits of probiotics for digestive health is a very specific strain of probiotics, Lactobacillus plantarum 299v. Over the past 25 years, there have been 75 clinical trials demonstrating the benefits of this specific human strain, particularly for digestive health. A recent study demonstrated that patients who took 20 billion live cells from Lactobacillus Plantarum 299v had less gas and bloating, fewer side effects from antibiotics, less abdominal pain, and a stronger immune system. When researchers decided to study the effects of Lactobacillus Plantarum 299v on more serious problems, the results were even greater. In patients suffering from irritable bowel syndrome who took 30 billion live cells of Lactobacillus Plantarum 299v, 100% saw their abdominal pain reduced and 95% reported a reduction in all their other symptoms, including gas, bloating and diarrhea and constipation.

The Lactobacillus plantarum 299v have other specific qualities that distinguish them from other bacteria:

• Acid resistant and low pH, which helps survive in the stomach

• The only strain of bacteria capable of stimulating the growth of other probiotics

• Natural human strain without GMO

• Free of common allergens, including wheat and dairy

• Require no refrigeration

The balance of bacteria in our digestive system is very fragile and it is possible to have too much of a good thing.

Search for Lactobacillus plantarum 299v in Integris from SISU, a Canadian company that has been creating and manufacturing innovative, high-quality natural health products for over 30 years.

Sources:

http://probiotic.org/lactobacillus-plantarum.htm

Ducrotte, et al. Clinical trial: Lactobacillus plantarum 299v (DSM 9843) improves symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. World J Gastroenterol. August 14, 2012; 18(30): 4012–4018.

Niedzielin, et al. A controlled, double-blind, randomized study on the efficacy of Lactobacillus plantarum 299V in patients with irritable bowel syndrome. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2001;13:1143–1147.

Rask, C., et al. Differential effect on cell-mediated immunity in human volunteers after intake of different lactobacilli. Clinical & Experimental Immunology 2012: 172: 321–332.