Probiotics

[MistyH]

I have been talking to someone about probiotics and they claim that they avoid a probiotic with fos because her words, "there is research that shows that they also feed the bad bacteria and can make the intestinal wall more porous, which means that things like salmonella can get out"


I have read Probiotics Revolution and Gary Huffnagle clearly states that the FOS is beneficial and supports and feeds good flora. 

Any information anyone can share is greatly appreciated.

[Eva]

Hi Misty,

According to Michael Murray, ND in the Encyclopedia of Nutritional Supplements, FOS "increases Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli while simultaneously reducing the colonies of detrimental bacteria" (1996).  According to this source, FOS also increases the production of beneficial short-chain fatty acids, improves liver function, reduces serum cholesterol and blood pressure, and improves elimination of toxins.

According to Life Extension Disease Prevention and Treatment, 4th Ed., FOS feeds friendly bacteria, and " by aiding in the proliferation of bifidobacteria, the result is more protection in the gut from pathogens" (2003).  According to this source, this leads to better digestion and absorption, improved lipid profile, and enhanced bowel condition.

According to Alan R. Gaby, MD and The Healthnotes Medical Team in The Natural Pharmacy, 3rd Ed., FOS "serves as food for friendly bacteria...and can increase the number of these friendly bacteria in the colon while simultaneously reducing the population of harmful bacteria", and can increase absorption of calcium and magnesium, and improve elimination of toxins (2006).

Donna Gates, NC, M.Ed., BS, an expert on candidiasis, in The Body Ecology Diet, 8th Ed., recommends FOS, a "food that encourages the growth of lactobacillus and bifidus microorganisms".  She makes an FOS product called Ecobloom, "a prebiotic that encourages the growth of friendly microorganisms" (1996).

According to Elizabeth Lipski, Ph.D., CCN in Digestive Wellness, FOS has been well-documented and is naturally found in our food.  "It has been shown to reduce serum triglyceride levels, protect against colon cancer, and help normalize insulin levels.  Because of their health building qualities, inulin and FOS are being researched as possible functional food additives by companies throughout the world".  Low doses can dramatically increase bifidobacteria and acidophilus. FOS has also been shown to be antagonistic to at least eight disease-producing microbes including salmonella, listeria, campylobacter, shigella, and vibrio.  On average, we already consume about 2.5 grams per day of FOS alone (artichokes, onions, chicory, garlic, leeks, fruit, legumes, eggplant, asparagus, whole wheat etc.).  FOS works synergistically with probiotics and give the best results when taken together - called "synbiotics" (2005).

Maybe show this to your friend.  Hope this helps...

If your friend is still worried about it, it is easy to find probiotic formulas that include the media it was cultured on instead of adding back FOS as food after it has been centrifuged, such as New Chapter's All Flora or Udo's Choice probiotic formulas.  And then there's always cultured whole foods.

[MistyH]

Eva you are awesome!  Thank you for posting that information.  I have asked her to produce the information to no avail......

[blujay]

Hey ladies,

Of all the research that I can find, FOS have only beneficial health effects.

I found only a few studies that gave a faint description of the negative effects of a synthetic form of oligosaccharide called raffinose on the intestinal health of chickens. Hence, why it would be important to get a FOS supplement from a whole food source. And even further I would recommend getting both your probiotics and prebiotics from your own whole food ferments, (ie sauerkraut, kefir, etc...) and not from isolated extracts and standardized supplements. The healthiest and most biologically active cultures are found in the communities of wild fermented fresh whole foods, not in isolated strains of probiotics.

Here is my Health theme for the year:
"Nothing THRIVES in isolation, it only SURVIVES"

This is saying that nutrients, probiotics and people should be cultivated with their naturally occurring ecosystem intact.

Additionally, it would be extremely difficult to remove the widely distributed occurance of FOS in our regular food stuffs, its in almost every plant food that we eat. So instead of vilifying one component of food, we should seek to keep it in its original context and form....Eat Whole Food.  (Sorry I keep sounding like a broken record, but we keep coming back to this theme)

 

[MistyH]

My mantra too Blujay! 

With my case studies, I deal with a lot of folks eliminiating or reducing refined foods so with the likelihood of candida, I like to recommend a high quality multiple strain pro-biotic. 
Personally, I'm a kefir kraut kimchee queen!

[KristinC]

Back on the topic of FOS...

Does anyone know if, when taking a probiotic with FOS, if a person does experience bloating...does this mean the product is a bad combination or choice for this particular person, or will the bloating eventually go away as you keep taking it?  I heard that Pharmax HLC (with FOS) was recommended, so I tried it.  It did cause some bloating.  Should I try a different probiotic, or keep taking this one with the thought that it will likely not continue to produce this result with time?

Or should I try New Chapter probiotics for a whole food product?

(I'm working on trying to make sauerkraut...but still learning...and kraut doesn't work well for travel!)

Any thoughts are appreciated!

Thanks,
Kristin

[MistyH]

Kristin, it is my experience that FOS causes bloat but it does normalize.  I have a couple of clients that freak out at any type of bloat (I specialize in weight loss clients whom already have pre-conceived weight ideas/issues) So, I warn them first.  ie:  Don't begin the probiotics before a big event in which you desire to look a certain way, trying to fit into those tighter jeans, etc. etc. 

[eatbetter1]

I remember learning from Laura Knoff that FOS does feed certain bad bacteria, specifically Klebsiella, which was a concern for me in particular. It is good idea to do a stool test to identify exactly what types of yeast/bacterial overgrowth are present, so you can choose your probiotics appropriately.

[NicoleP]

Does anyone know if l-glutamine feeds the bad as well as the good?

Nicole

[blujay]

In short...yes.

Check these out:
http://www.jbc.org/content/281/35/25097.full
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=nutrient&dbid=122

But this doesn't mean that you should avoid it...its actually impossible to, but its really important for a healthy functioning bowl and good bacteria...the important issue here is to be sure that you are supporting the good guys and being sure that they are pushing out the bad guys, then you don't have to worry about which ones you are feeding.

[NicoleP]

Thanks