How Popular Are Probiotics
The 2012 National Health Interview Survey showed that about 4 million U.S. adults had used probiotics or prebiotics in the past 30 days. Among adults, probiotics or prebiotics were the third most commonly used dietary supplement other than vitamins and minerals. The use of probiotics by adults quadrupled between 2007 and 2012. The 2012 NHIS also showed that 300,000 children age 4 to 17 had used probiotics or prebiotics in the 30 days before the survey.
How Do Probiotics Boost Immunity
Many of us are familiar with the benefits of taking probiotics for gut health, but researchers are continuing to find other areas where they are proving to be helpful for supporting our health including the immune system.
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Scientists have discovered that up to 70 or 80% of our immune cells are actually located in our gut and that there is an intricate relationship between the bacteria in our gut and our immune system.1
Should You Take Probiotics
The “good bacteria” may help healthy people but aren’t formally recommended.
Probiotics are “good” bacteria touted to help maintain digestive health and boost the immune system. You can take them in a dietary supplement or get them from food sources, such as yogurt. But should you? They can be helpful in some cases, but we still need more studies to tell us if and when they are safe and effective for older adults.
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Bacteria Lead To Quicker Recovery
A recent trial conducted in Mexico showed that people with the coronavirus who took a specific combination of four probiotic bacterial strains recovered quicker compared to those who took a placebo. Those given probiotics also had increased antibody responses to the virus that peaked earlier than the placebo groups.
Importantly, those taking the probiotics had lesser symptoms and lower amounts of the virus in their bodies 15 days after their initial infection compared to people taking the placebo.
These encouraging results are some of the first to show that probiotics could help our immune system fight off COVID. The authors suggest that probiotic supplementation could help people recover quicker. This could reduce the self-isolation periods currently imposed on infected people in numerous countries throughout the world.
That said, we need to be careful interpreting these results. Despite being a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial , it had some limitations. It excluded those over the age of 60 and didnt account for vaccination status of the trial participants. This means we dont yet know if probiotics provide any benefit to those who are most at risk of developing severe COVID.
In addition, taking probiotics may be inappropriate for those with a weakened immune system. This is due to a potential increased risk of infection resulting from consuming large quantities of live bacteria.
Easier To Clean And Use
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How Many Competitors Does It Have
Many different factors go into answering this question. The number of competitors can vary greatly depending on the best probiotic for immune system you are dealing with and the scope of your business model. Knowing how these factors can affect your market share is important when deciding whether or not you should enter a new market.
How Might Probiotics Work
Probiotics may have a variety of effects in the body, and different probiotics may act in different ways.
Probiotics might:
- Help your body maintain a healthy community of microorganisms or help your bodyâs community of microorganisms return to a healthy condition after being disturbed
- Produce substances that have desirable effects
- Influence your bodyâs immune response.
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How Probiotics Might Be Bad For You
Because these good bacteria already exist in the body, theyâre considered safe for most people. But there are some things to consider.
They can trigger an allergic reaction. They might cause mild stomach problems, especially the first few days you start taking them. You might have stomach upset, gas, diarrhea, or bloating. Those symptoms usually go away after your body gets used to them.
If you have an immune system problem or another serious health condition, you may have a greater chance of issues. Some reports have linked probiotics to serious infections and other side effects. The people most likely to have trouble are those with immune system problems, people who’ve had surgery, and others who are critically ill. Don’t take probiotics if you have any of those issues.
Always talk to your pediatrician before giving probiotic supplements to your child. If you’re pregnant or nursing, you should also talk to your doctor before you try one.
Most probiotics in the U.S. are sold as dietary supplements. That means the companies that make them don’t have to test their products and show that they work or that they are safe. More research is needed to confirm that probiotics are safe and effective.
Ask your doctor which probiotics are the right ones for you. Be sure to stop taking them if you have any problems.
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Probiotics And Gut Health For Immunity
Your digestive and immune systems may seem completely separate, but they actually work hand in hand to keep you healthy. Gut bacteria play a critical role in helping regulate and activate immune cells.
First, they inhibit the adherence of pathogenic bacteria to the intestinal wall, so the bad bugs are not allowed to take over your gut and make you sick. The good bacteria help maintain the right balance of microorganisms in the gut. An imbalance of bacteria in the gut has been associated with a variety of illnesses from allergies to obesity.
Probiotics can also reduce the severity and symptoms of common digestive problems, like diarrhea, caused by either infections or antibiotics. A 2012 study found that taking a probiotic along with your antibiotics can reduce the risk of diarrhea by 42%. They also reduce the risk of developing other kinds of diarrhea by 26%.
Gut bacteria can help regulate immune response directly, by controlling inflammation and sending signals to the immune system telling it how to react to possible threats. Probiotics and the immune system are partners in the quest to keep you healthy.
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Can Prebiotics And/or Probiotics Be Used To Treat Inflammatory Diseases
M.V.K. Apparently, the interaction of enteric bacteria and the intestinal epithelial mucosal immune system plays a crucial part in the development of IBD. However, there are insufficient data to recommend the routine use of prebiotics or probiotics for either the induction or maintenance of the remission of ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease. Several Cochrane Reviews concluded that, although there are some promising results, there is a lack of well-designed randomized controlled clinical trials in this area, and further research is needed,.
There are indications of the efficacy of certain probiotics to reduce the risk of severe and mortality in preterm infants with birthweights above 1,000 g. However, data regarding the effect of probiotics on infants with extremely low birthweight are lacking. Furthermore, the potential for an increased risk of nosocomial sepsis in preterm infants given probiotics needs particular attention and careful evaluation. Therefore, insufficient evidence exists to recommend the routine use of probiotics for NEC.
In summary, the treatment of all inflammatory conditions using prebiotics and/or probiotics is hampered by a lack of convincing clinical trials with reproducible results. Although the concept is reasonable, it is unclear whether probiotics can progress from a promise to a reality for any clinical therapeutic or preventive approach.
Host Immune Responses Regulated By Probiotics
Probiotics play a role in defining and maintaining the delicate balance between necessary and excessive defense mechanisms including innate and adaptive immune responses. Points of interaction with the immune regulation for probiotics include bacteria direct interaction with intestinal epithelial cells, or following internalization by M cells through interaction with dendritic cells and follicle-associated epithelial cells, initiating responses mediated by macrophages and T and B lymphocytes. Regulation of gene expression and signaling pathways in the host cells are two major mechanisms underlying probiotic action leading to immunomodulation.
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Studies Suggest That Lgg May Help Promote The Immune System And May Help Reduce The Incidence Of Flu
A study of healthy adults investigated how supplementing with the LGG® strain affected the number of antibodies the body produced in response to a vaccine challenge.9 Compared to taking placebo, 29% more participants who took LGG®produced a number of specific antibodies that is associated with increased immune system function. This suggests that the LGG® strain may help promote immune responses by increasing the number of antibodies the body makes to fight against foreign invaders.9
In another study, children who consumed the LGG® probiotic strain for three months had a significant reduction in the incidence of flu-like sickness.1 The length of time that children experienced symptoms was also reduced, and they had significantly fewer days away from daycare due to illness, compared to the placebo group.1 Similarly, children who consumed LGG® for the length of a hospital stay had a significantly lower incidence of digestive system illness and flu-like sickness.10
Can I Buy Something Similar Cheaper Elsewhere
One of the most common questions that a lot of customers ask is, Can I buy something similar cheaper elsewhere? The short answer is no. When you are looking for a quality probiotic for immune system, the most important thing to know is that cheap is not always better. You should carefully research the best probiotic for immune system before buying and consult the prices on some online sales websites to make the best decision.
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How Long Does It Take Probiotics To Work For Your Immune System
Its tough to say exactly how quickly probiotics might start working, Mills says. Different strains of probiotics, the amount you take and the quality of the food or supplement will affect when or if you see results. More research may bring answers.
Theres reason to be hopeful. Theres enough evidence to say probiotics may have some validity and its worth pursuing, both in research and in the foods that we choose in a balanced diet, Mills says.
Probiotics And Prebiotics: Working Together
Probiotics work better when they dont act alone. To get the full health benefit of probiotics, prebiotics are part of the equation, Dr. Eisendorf says.
Prebiotics are indigestible carbohydrates that feed probiotic bacteria and help them grow. They exist naturally in most whole grains and beans, especially oats, beans, bran, whole barley and whole-wheat products, as well as many fruits and vegetables, including most greens, garlic, bananas, artichokes, asparagus and chicory root. Even red wine offers some prebiotics.
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Break Down And Absorb Medications
This benefit of probiotics varies according to the probiotic in question. They must survive the acidic environment of your digestive tract and stomach before reaching your intestines. High-quality probiotics reach your intestines intact. This allows your body to absorb the nutrients they contain. If probiotics aren’t intact when they reach your intestines, your body won’t extract the nutrients.
Megan Oster is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
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How Can Improving Gut Health Support The Immune System
Healthy gut bacteria helps to support healthy digestion, reduce the risk of inflammation from happening in the gut wall, and help us to absorb key nutrients from our foods. As the health of the immune system is directly impacted from the health of the gut wall, one of the best ways we can assist our gut is to support the health of beneficial bacteria.
The first and best way to do this, is to take an extra close look at your diet. If you eat a diet high in plant fibre, low in saturated fats, and avoid too many high sugar and high salt processed foods, you will help to keep beneficial bacteria healthy and also reduce the change of inflammation happening in your gut wall, which can lead to a loss in the protective action of your immune cells.
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How Is Our Gut Connected To Our Immune System
Our gut houses around 70% of the cells that make up our immune system – meaning more than half of the cells that create antibodies for fighting off germs live in the intestinal tract 5.
Probiotics are potentially effective in alleviating symptoms associated with some digestive conditions, as populating the gut with good bacteria will promote a more balanced and diverse gut microbiome.
When we have an imbalance of good and bad bacteria in our gut, it can cause an inflammatory response. Our immune system then spends its time fighting this inflammation. Inflammation can be caused by a whole host of factors, such as stress, eating highly processed foods, or overuse of antibiotics.6
When the immune system is busy attacking the inflammation, it doesnt have the same energy to fight off the foreign invaders in the body, making us more susceptible to illness.
This is why consuming a healthy, balanced diet rich in probiotic foods is often recommended to help keep our gut balanced, and our immune system functioning optimally.
Probiotics And Your Immune System
It doesnt matter if you eat foods high in probiotics or take a supplement, both will help to flood your body with more healthy bacteria, reinforcing the bacteria already in your body. The more bacteria there are in your intestines, the easier it will be for your body to fight disease and stop infections from spreading. Not to mention protect the lining in your intestines and increase your ability to absorb nutrients whats not to love?
With all the many health benefits of probiotics, the most impressive is how they can give you an immunity boost in a way no other supplement can. They essentially work from the inside out to protect your body, leading to a stronger immune system that is better able to defend itself against all illnesses that come your way.
References
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Manipulating The Gut Microbiome
Dietary choices also appeared to have an impact. People who ate a high-fiber diet were five times as likely to respond to immunotherapy and had more bacteria linked to a positive response.
People with diets high in added sugar and processed meat, on the other hand, had fewer of these bacteria.
Spencer and team were less shocked by this result. Eating a high-fiber diet has long been shown to have health benefits, she explains. In this case, we see signs that it is also linked to a better response to cancer immunotherapy. Definitely another good reason to load up on whole grains, vegetables, and fruits.
Overall, the study may partly explain why some cancers do not respond well to immunotherapy treatment. It also suggests that certain dietary factors especially careful consideration of probiotic supplements may have an impact on success rates.
Spencer admits that improving the effectiveness of immunotherapy might not be as simple as that. But this study, she says, does point to diet playing a role in immunotherapy response via the gut microbiome and we hope these findings will spur more studies on this topic in the cancer research community.
More trials are beginning. One is currently using an oral pill in an attempt to positively influence the gut microbiome and immunotherapy response.
MD Anderson staff are planning another that will examine the effects of different diets on people with cancer.
Probiotics Can Help Prevent And Treat Diarrhea
Probiotics are widely known for their ability to prevent diarrhea or reduce its severity.
Diarrhea is a common side effect of taking antibiotics. It occurs because antibiotics can negatively affect the balance of good and bad bacteria in the gut (
15 ).
A review of 15 human studies found supplementing with Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus strains for 12 months can improve anxiety, depression, autism, obsessive-compulsive disorder and memory .
One study followed 70 chemical workers for 6 weeks. Those who consumed 100 grams of probiotic yogurt per day or took a daily probiotic capsule experienced benefits for general health, depression, anxiety and stress .
Benefits were also seen in a study of 40 patients with depression.
Taking probiotic supplements for 8 weeks decreased depression levels and reduced levels of C-reactive protein and hormones such as insulin, compared to people who did not take a probiotic .
Bottom Line:
Research shows taking probiotics may help improve symptoms of mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, stress and memory, among others.
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