06 Nov Focus on: Probiotics

Not all Probiotics are created equal

Bugs by the Billions

Probiotics form an essential component of many treatment plans, as the microorganisms resident in the gut have profound clinical impacts on health through influencing digestive health and regulating the immune response. Many health conditions are associated with imbalances in the gut flora; if you suffer from conditions including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease, and immune imbalances such as eczema, allergies and autoimmunity, you will benefit from probiotic supplementation.

Several important factors need to be present in order to select the most appropriate probiotic. Emerging evidence continues to highlight that not all probiotic strains and doses are equal or have the same therapeutic outcomes. It is therefore critical to use specific strains of probiotics at the appropriate doses proven to target your specific condition.

Name the Strain

Were you aware there are a number of strains of probiotic? They differ according to genus, species and strain, and the therapeutic effects of the probiotic strain can change even if they are from the same genus and species. New research continues to demonstrate that condition specific probiotics are having positive effects.

Keep It Personal

Well-chosen strains allow your unique gut flora to re-balance, providing an abundance of the right bacteria to moderate pathogenic overgrowths. The key to microbial harmony is consistency. Many probiotic strains colonise in the gut for up to a week,therefore daily supplementation is needed to keep your health moving in the right direction. The table highlights the key strain combinations to meet everyone’s differing needs. These strains are able to pass through the digestive process intact and adhere to intestinal cells, ensuring maximum impact on gut, immune and overall biological function.

Personalised  Probiotic	Active Probiotic  Strains	Number of Active  Strains per Dose	Evidence Based  Treatment Applications
High Potency  Probiotic	L. acidophilus NCFM. B. lactis Bi07 L. rhamnosus GG	11.5 billion 11.5 billion 2.0 billion	For general support of healthy ageing. General gut health and wellbeing. Restoration of gut flora after a course of antibiotics.
Immune Enhancing  Probiotic	L. acidophilus NCFM B. lactis Bi07 L. rhamnosus HN001	11 billion 1.2 billion 0.5 billion	For targeted support of innate immunity in adults, especially older patients. For support gut-based immune regulation.
Dysbiosis Control	Sacromyces boulardii L. rhamnosus HN001	7.5 billion 0.5 billion	For patients: with bacterial dysbiosis, candidiasis. Travelers’ diarrhoea in adults and children.
Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GG	L. rhamnosus GG	10 billion	Prevention and treatment of allergic and atopic conditions including food allergy and eczema. Treatment and prevention of acute infectious diarrhoea in children and adults.
Lactobacillus Plantarum 299v	L. plantarum 299v	20 billion	For patients with digestive and/or systemic inflammation. IBS and other inflammatory bowel conditions.

Achieving Success

A probiotic supplement does more than balance the microflora of the gastrointestinal tract; it represents the key foundation for any Wellness program. In conjunction with your Chiropractic care plan, a personalised probiotic selection will help to achieve your optimal health goals. Remember – the focus is on the right strain for the right condition, the applicable therapeutic dose, and the integrity of the product.

At Wellspring Chiropractic, we stock a range of Metagenics probiotics that are condition specific, stable and of the highest quality.