Synbiotic information and
indicated health benefits
Anti-microbial: Such qualities
may result more so from the probiotic components than the prebiotic.
Good probiotic bacteria reinforce the intestinal walls by crowding
out harmful organisms, thereby helping to prevent their attachment.
Probioic bacteria also stimulate antigen specific and nonspecific
immune responses.
Anti-Cancer: Anti-carcinogenic qualities are not fully investigated
yet in full-scale clinical studies, but what is speculated is that
the sugars that are fermented by the bacteria form into substances
that may inhibit the growth of carcinogenic cells. Prebiotic sugars
help to increase calcium and magnesium in the colon which, in turn,
assist in controling the rate of cell turnover and the formation of
intestine damaging insoluble bile or fatty acid salt. Probiotic bacteria
have, in lab study, bound to and inactivated some carcinogens. They
may directly inhibit the growth of some tumors, as well as any bacteria
that convert matter into carcinogens.
Anti-Diarrhoea: Benefits are achieved by the crowding out of harmful
bacteria known to cause diarrhoea. Since synbiotics also strengthen
the intestinal wall, this would help prevent diarrhoea also.
Anti-Allergy: - Food allergies may be helped since the probiotic bacteria
help to reinforce the barrier function of the intestinal wall, thereby
possibly preventing the absorption of some antigens.
Osteoporosis Prevention: - Improved mineral absorption and balance.
This ability comes as a result of oligosaccharides (3-6 sugar chains)
which bind such minerals as calcium and magnesium in the small intestine,
but releasing them in the large intestine where they are better absorbed.
Fatty acids, also formed from the fermentation process, will then
assist with the absorption of these minerals.
LDL Cholestrol and Triglyceride reduction: Although still being stydied,
prebiotics appear to lower triglyceride levels, as well as total cholesterol
and LDL-cholesterol levels. Prebiotics may also normalize serum glucose
levels by delaying gastric emptying and by shortening the food transit
time through the small intestine. Lastly, propionate from fermentation
may make better use of the glucose molecule conversion.
Regulating the Immune System: Probiotic bacteria are known to have
the ability to increase the levels of circulating immunoglobulin A
(IgA) and may enhance nonspecific immune mechanisms, such as increasing
phagocyte activity.
Treating Liver-related Brain Dysfunction: In the May 2004 issue of
Hepatology a study article says that synbiotics and fermentable fibre
not only have a beneficial effect on the liver but on a brain dysfunction
that affects many who have liver disease too. This dysfunction results
in changes in behavior, intelligence, consciousness, and neuromuscular
function.
Digestion: - How effective a synbiotic is depends on how the probiotic
bacteria survive digestive stomach juices, as well as the alkaline
environment of the duodenum. Effectiveness also depends on whether
or not the bacteria are able to adhere to the intestinal wall to colonize
the colon. As a result, prebiotics are necessary to assist the probiotic
since prebiotic sugars (mainly oligosaccharides and disaccharides)
are not digested. This enables prebiotics to travel through the digestive
tract to help feed the bacteria in the intestines. These sugars are
then fermented by bifidobacteria, lactobacilli, and others in the
colon to produce some beneficial by-products that include short-chain
fatty acids acetate, propionate and butyrate. These by-products are
either used by the colon or absorbed and transported to the liver
where they are extensively metabolized. Those that are not metabolized
in the liver are circulated to various other tissues for use.
Healing and regulating the
Intestinal Flora: Following the destruction of microorganisms by antibiotic,
chemotherapy, or radiation therapies, proper digestion, absorption,
and maufacture of nutrients cannot take place.Synbiotics restore natural
balance.
A good synbiotic will suppress
some putrefactive processes in the stomach and intestines and thus
help prevent the occurrence of a number of serious diseases: food
allergies, ulcerous colitis, constipation, diarrhoea, cancers, gastrointestinal
infections, IBS, IBD etc. See
PUBMED study referrences HERE
Synbiotics containing one
to ten billion active cells or CFU, should be taken several times
a week, if not daily. In cases where antibiotics have been taken,
it is often suggested that synbiotics be taken several times a day,
preferably at least 30 minutes before meals.
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