gastroenterologists trying to learn?
Researchers are studying ways to use microbiome manipulation as a treatment or cure for disease. Studies include use of antibiotics to kill “bad” bacteria, prebiotics and probiotics to encourage growth of “good” bacteria and use of FMT to treat certain conditions.
Doctors and researchers at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine are currently studying the gut microbiome to determine which bacteria may contribute to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Using stool samples collected from both families with multiple members diagnosed with IBD and healthy individuals, researchers model the effects of IBD and healthy gut bacteria in germ-free mice. The results help researchers decipher between healthy bacteria and IBD-causing bacteria.
What does this have to do with yogurt?
The probiotics found in yogurt, kimchi, kefir and other fermented foods are actually living bacteria and yeasts. Different types of probiotics have different benefits; for example, Lactobacillus strains may help alleviate diarrhea.
Researchers have investigated the diet’s influence on the gut microbiome for decades. Nobel laureate Elie Metchnikoff introduced the concept of probiotics in a report, published in 1907, that linked the longevity of Bulgarians with the consumption of fermented milk, aka yogurt.
Other studies, however, have shown little benefit from probiotics. Two recent studies published in The New England Journal of Medicine looked at the use of probiotics in children with gastroenteritis. The studies showed that two particular probiotics had no benefit for North American children with acute gastroenteritis.
The American Gastroenterological Association reports that probiotics are generally safe for healthy children and adults. However, use them with caution in children with chronic illnesses or have compromised immune systems. The two studies, AGA says, focused on a specific population and two specific products, which means results may not apply to all children and all probiotics.
While advertisements claim probiotics help with everything from weight loss to sleep quality, it’s best talk with your doctor to determine which — if any — probiotics are right for you. They’ll have the best advice on how to keep your microbiome as diverse and healthy as possible.
Reviewed by Dr. Chris Fourment, 1/28/2019.
Resources
//assets.gialliance.com/Images/Sites/G/GI-Alliance/MasterPage/889495.pdf https://ep.bmj.com/content/102/5/257 https://www.uhhospitals.org/for-clinicians/articles-and-news/articles/2018/01/investigating-treatments-for-inflammatory-bowel-disease https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3539293/
