Best Probiotics For Autoimmune Disease

If You Are Taking Or Have Recently Taken Antibiotics

Antibiotics are one of the biggest necessary evils in the medical field. There are many cases where antibiotics are totally necessary, but theyre also very commonly over prescribed.

The main problem with antibiotics is that they not only kill the bad bacteria that are making you sick, but they also destroy much of the good bacteria living in your gut. When that happens, your gut bacteria can get out of balance.

By supplementing with probiotics both during and after your course of antibiotics, you can significantly reduce your chances of experiencing things like antibiotic-associated diarrhea, which results from the unfavorable changes in your microbiome caused by the antibiotic.

To protect yourself from some of the undesirable side-effects of antibiotics, popping a probiotic about two hours after your antibiotic may help!

Can Probiotics Be Harmful

• Probiotics have an extensive history of apparently safe use, particularly in healthy people. However, few studies have looked at the safety of probiotics in detail, so thereâs a lack of solid information on the frequency and severity of side effects.
• The risk of harmful effects from probiotics is greater in people with severe illnesses or compromised immune systems. When probiotics are being considered for high-risk individuals, such as premature infants or seriously ill hospital patients, the potential risks of probiotics should be carefully weighed against their benefits.
• Possible harmful effects of probiotics include infections, production of harmful substances by the probiotic microorganisms, and transfer of antibiotic resistance genes from probiotic microorganisms to other microorganisms in the digestive tract.
• Some probiotic products have been reported to contain microorganisms other than those listed on the label. In some instances, these contaminants may pose serious health risks.

Probiotics Mechanisms And The Pathophysiology Of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Crosstalk between gut epithelium, immune system, and commensal bacteria is key to starting the systemic inflammatory response . An imbalance between anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin -1, TNF, interferon -, IL-6, IL-12, and IL-17, plays a central role in the inflammatory processes involved in the pathogenesis of RA .

The proposed mechanism for the gut-joint axis in inflammatory arthritis is related to the hyperpermeability of the gut wall, which leads to the exposure of immune system to microorganisms, leading to a systemic immune response that triggers a local inflammatory process within the joints .

A meta-analysis of randomized trials investigating the effect of Lactobacillus as single species or in mixed cultures with Bifidobacterium species concluded that probiotic supplementation reduced serum levels of IL-6 . Another systematic review and meta-analysis that investigated the effectiveness of Lactobacillus casei supplementation in RA reported that a significant reduction of C-reactive protein was achieved with this specific strain . Studies have also reported that L. casei might help alleviate RA symptoms and suppress pro-inflammatory cytokines in individuals undergoing treatment with disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs , which suggests a positive synergistic effect between DMARDs and probiotics on arthritis .

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A Special Dietary Starch Modulates L Reuteri Growth And Improves Autoimmune Symptoms

To assess the role of diet in modulating bacteria in lupus-prone mice, the team fed them food enriched with resistant starch, a type of fiber that resists digestion and is fermented by gut bacteria.

Resistant starch L. reuteri found in the feces and in the gut of mice fed with resistant starch. Resistant starch also tightened the gut epithelial barrier and reduced gut leakiness and L. reuteri translocation to the blood. Over time, resistant starch reduced lupus-related mortality and decreased the levels of inflammatory molecules in the spleen and gut.

The researchers discovered that L. reuteri growth was inhibited by short-chain fatty acids, in particular butyrate, which are the main metabolites of resistant starch fermentation by the gut microbiota.

In conclusion, these data suggest that a dietary intervention is sufficient to prevent the development of lupus-like disease, whose symptoms are exacerbated by the commensal L. reuteri strain. The findings could inform clinical approaches to restrain bacteria that contribute to autoimmune diseases.

Glutathione And Autoimmune Disease

Glutathione is the most powerful antioxidant in the human body. It acts as an antioxidant on its own while also regulating other antioxidants in the body. In addition to antioxidant benefits, glutathione supports healthy detoxification. These actions will help lower inflammation drastically, which is a major factor in autoimmune conditions.

Glutathione has also been identified as playing a major role in white blood cell function and immune system regulation. For these reasons, glutathione has been identified a key nutrient in the battle against autoimmune disease .

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Bio Schwartz Probiotic 65 Billion Cfu

This Bio Schwartz Probiotic 65 Billion CFU is designed to bring you 65 billion colony forming CFUs with 13 powerful probiotic strains. One of the leading ones is Lactobacillus in every single serving. These natural colony-forming prebiotics are specifically chosen to help support excellent digestive support, improve nutrient absorption, and promote the natural balance within your gut. Its also formulated to help ward off the occasional side effects of taking probiotics, including bloating, gas, and constipation.

This probiotics option is doctor-approved and is designed to be shelf-stable. Not only does it keep for a rather long time without refrigeration, but it also has a patented delay release formula that means it can survive your stomach acids until it reaches deep within your gut before deploying. This delay system means that this probiotic can go as far as reaching your large intestines providing your gut with excellent, well-rounded coverage.

While professionals formulate every probiotics option on this list, what sets this one apart is the fact the manufacturer has gone a step further and put it through purity testing. That means that every bottle is effective and allergen-free and has been put to the test by an independent third party to ensure that you are getting nothing but the best option. In addition, the bottle is non-GMO, gluten-free, peanut, and wheat-free.

Pros

• Contains no GMOs, fillers and is gluten-free

Cons

Your Doctor Could Be Wrong Why A Science

Below we will detail what the scientific research with probiotics has found. This will be a review of high quality scientific support.

Why the emphasis on high quality?

To protect you from inaccurate advice. The balance here is usually between two extremes:

• Your doctor might make a remark such as there is no evidence for probiotics.
• Online marketers who proclaim probiotics as a cure all.

Of course most doctors are only trying to help, but might not have the time to stay current with the research. Sadly, instead of saying I havent kept up with the probiotic research most doctors default to an understandable stance of circumspection.

Internet marketers routinely use junk science to tell you their product is scientifically proven. What they leave out is that its been proven to help a rat or a petri dish, not humans.

Here is an example I will never forget. I was attending a lecture by a health guru who razzle dazzled the audience with how promising this new fiber was for weight loss. There were mechanistic diagrams and colorful charts showing how this fiber would lead to weight loss on a cellular level. I sat there fuming knowing that we have already tested this in humans! Guess what the results showed? About 2-3 pounds of average weight loss in subjects who were already obese.

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Why Probiotics Are Important

Probiotics are live microorganisms that confer health benefits when consumed. They can be obtained through foods or via probiotic supplements.

In an ideal world, probiotics wouldnt be needed. Unfortunately, in todays world imbalances in intestinal microbiota are the norm. Why?

• Overuse of antibiotics
• Unhealthy diets low in fiber and high in processed foods and added sugar
• Sedentary lifestyle and poor sleep habits

The above then leads to:

• Robbing your intestines of the sources of healthy bacteria
• Reducing the food needed to feed healthy bacteria
• Reducing the proper development of your intestinal immune system, which regulates bacteria

This creates a perfect storm setting the stage for poor gut health. Lets take a closer look at the storm.

As a child you require colonization with healthy bacteria, you are not born with them. Yes, you pick up some bacteria while in utero but you obtain a mega dose when you pass through your mothers vaginal canal. You get even more through your mothers breast milk. If you were born via c-section, not breastfed these are all lost opportunities for beneficial bacterial colonization.

Feeding Your Microbiota

Proper Immune System Development Which Regulates Bacteria

What Do I Need To Look For When Choosing Probiotics For Immunity

Using the right strains of bacteria in the right quantities to have the desired effect on the immune system is essential, but what strain do you choose, at what dose? Let us simplify things for you, based upon the recent research summarised above and our clinical experience:

• For coughs, colds, and other respiratory tract infections use L. rhamnosus GG for prevention for young children from three years. For older children use up to 10 billion of LAB4 combination, and 20-30 billion LAB4 per day for adults.
• During and after antibiotics aim for up to 30 billion LAB4 during the antibiotic course, taken at least 2-4 hours away from the antibiotic to increase the chance of probiotic survival. After the course of antibiotics, it can often be a good idea to take a short course of a more intensive probiotic supplement to help minimise the impact on the microbiome and reduce side effects, with a dose ranging from 75-130 billion depending on the situation.
• For autoimmunity and chronic inflammation aim for a daily supplement of at least 25-30 billion LAB4 which we know can help to improve gut integrity and systemic inflammation. A higher potency course including strains with extra immune-balancing benefits, such as Lactobacillus salivarius, can often be helpful depending on the situation.

If you have a particular immune condition and would like tailored advice to suit your needs, please contact our Clinical Nutrition team.

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Mechanism Of Action Of Probiotics

Probiotics have been found to affect every compartment of the gut, including the luminal microbiome, the mucus barrier, the microbe- and cell-free kill zone of the epithelium, the lymphocyte- and plasma cell-rich lamina propria, the vascular and neural elements of the lamina propria, the underlying smooth muscles which control motility, and the mesenteric lymph nodes that communicate with the systemic immune system. Probiotic-modulated local and systemic metabolites have been identified which may modify autoimmune diseases and the mechanisms are summarized in .

Under certain circumstances, treatment with probiotic lactobacilli could yield metabolites in the SCFA pathway that may be harmful. In the setting of short bowel syndrome, infants have been reported to develop D-lactic acidosis , because of the low abundance of the anaerobic microbiota capable of lactate utilization and a dominance of lactobacilli in the feces .

Blood Pressure & Cholesterol

When it comes to blood pressure and cholesterol, we have five meta-analyses , so this is worth a look. The results are a bit mixed, however the majority of results do show benefits

Four meta-analyses found that probiotic supplements can improve overall cholesterol profiles. One of these studies also shows significant improvements to blood pressure. All together these four meta-analyses evaluated 68 clinical trials with 3885 patients.

Another meta-analysis found probiotics had a significant effect on reducing LDL Cholesterol. However, there was no effect on blood pressure or any other cholesterol readings. This meta analysis evaluated 9 clinical studies with 678 participants with pre-diabetes.

Another interesting study found that probiotics can lower homocysteine, which is an independent risk factor for heart disease. How did the probiotic lower homocysteine? The probiotic increased healthy bacteria levels in the gut, these bacterial changes lead to increased B vitamin production and this then lead to decreased homocysteine levels.

The effect size in these studies is usually small, but favorable. So, probiotics should not be viewed as the primary therapy for high cholesterol or blood pressure.

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Vitamin D And Autoimmune Disease

Vitamin D is arguably one of the most powerful nutrients responsible for modulating and coordinating the immune system. In autoimmune disease, the immune system has a hard time differentiating self from non-self . Vitamin D helps the immune system make this important distinction, which reduces autoimmune disease formation .

Vitamin D deficiency is vastly common in our society due to sunscreen use and low amounts of sun exposure. On top of this, the average diet is severely lacking dietary sources of Vitamin D such as organ meats and certain fish.

What Are Probiotics & How Do They Work

Probiotics are living microorganisms that provide health benefits to their host. Most people have around a thousand different bacterial species occupying their gut, this is collectively known as their microbiota. We co-evolved with bacteria in what is known as a symbiotic relationship we help them and they help us.

How Do Probiotics Help You?

The Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology and the journal Trends in Microbiology offer insights regarding how probiotics make you healthier.

Probiotics can:

• Increase bacterial diversity, or health, of your bacterial community.
• Fight pathogens and their toxins.
• Promote a more rapid recovery from imbalances in your gut organisms.
• Promote a healthy immune response in your gut.
• Reduce gut inflammation .
• Encourage the growth of healthier microbes in your gut.
• Reduce leaky gut aka damage to your gut lining.

Said simply, probiotics can help improve the balance of organisms in your gut, reduce overzealous immune system activity and reduce the inflammation which many of us suffer with.

An important point to emphasize is that probiotics are antibacterial, antifungal and antiparasitic. This is, in part, how they help promote a healthier community of organisms in your gut, they clean out the bad bugs.

Probiotics Heal The Gut The Gut Affects Almost Everything

We can boil the impact of gut health down to these root fundamentals:

Immune System

Inflammation

Nutrient Absorption

Most Probiotics Do Not Colonize You

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The Ultimate Support For Your Aip Journey

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Thank you for your warmth, your AIP mastery, and your dedication to answering each and every one of our questions with such kindness and attention to detail. Thank you for teaching the science behind the principles. The amount of energy you put into creating this course and responding to us in real-time is felt and APPRECIATED!!-Nicole Wood

Soil-Based Organisms: While not as extensively studied as probiotics from the lactobacillus and bifidobacterium genera, soil-based organisms hold extreme promise for modulating the immune system and correcting gut dysbiosis. They have been shown to have extreme therapeutic potential in Irritable Bowel Syndrome and provide probiotic organisms that are routinely missing from our modern, over-hygienic lifestyles yet are normal residents of a healthy gut.

One brand to look for is Prescript-Assist which contains 29 different strains of soil-based organisms and is also dairy-free, gluten-free, soy-free, corn-free, wheat-free, egg-free, peanut-free, tree nut-free and yeast-free come from the lactobacillus or bifidobacterium genera, or indeed any of the strains typically found in fermented foods). Prescript-Assist has one of the best diversity of any probiotic supplements available. Soil-based organisms seem to be better tolerated than lactobacillus and bifidobacterium, although extensive comparisons have not been made.

Vitauthority Sbo Probiotics + Greens: Best For Inflammation

Vitauthority SBO Probiotics + Greens is a probiotic supplement that may energize and enhance ones digestion and immunity. With regular consumption, this supplement may contribute to the bodys overall metabolism through its composition of organic superfoods.

Vitauthority SBO Probiotics + Greens are U.S.-based, have a cGMP-regulated manufacturing facility, and adhere to international production standards.

Each wellness pill is packed with SBOs that organically may help bowel movement and functional improvement in the abdominal region.

With its nutraceutical goodness composed of non-chemical ingredients, the likes of broccoli, kale, spinach, and organic spirulina, each capsule is bursting with immunity-boosting minerals and multivitamins.

In addition, this supplement may help fight inflammation issues through its antioxidative properties. Therefore, it may revitalize cells of the skin and regulate gut health.

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How To Tell If A Probiotic Is Working

1st Take stock of your symptoms

They might be fatigue and depression, or bloating, or joint pain, or constipation, or insomnia, or unstable dose of thyroid medication. Whatever they are, take stock of how often and how severe your symptoms are.

2nd Reevaluate these symptoms after 3-4 weeks of probiotic therapy

Are you improving? If so, keep on the protocol. You are not looking for complete resolution, per se. If so, that is great. But dont expect everything to be fixed completely at the 3-4 week mark. You are looking for a clear trend of improvement. If so, great, we are on the right track. Keep going.

3rd Look for when you hit your peak improvement

Once you peak or plateau, great. This is another milestone. Keep this constant for another four weeks, so your body can integrate and you can lock in this new balance.

After four weeks

Finally Try to gradually find the minimal effective dose

Technically, you dont have to do this but I find less is more with supplements. I like people to cut their dose in half, then reevaluate after 3-4 weeks. If this goes well, try coming off completely.

These are just rough guidelines, this is not that precise so dont stress yourself out. This is a simple process of gradually trying to wean off. If at some point your symptoms return, it means you should stay on the probiotics.

You can try weaning again in a few months. Simple. Dont overcomplicate this.

Here are a few scenarios of what dose weaning might look like.