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Disease risks and other issues related to poor digestive health.

Probiotics and Flu Season

Children’s Health, Disease / By

The temperature is dipping and you all know what that means – cold and flu season is upon us. No one wants to end up stuck in bed for a week with uncomfortable, draining flu symptoms. Happily, there are a few basic things you can do to prevent the onset of the flu:

  • Get the flu vaccine
  • Wash your hands religiously
  • Avoid crowds
  • Do not sneeze or cough into your hands
  • Drink lots of fluid
  • Eat lots of fruits and vegetables
  • Exercise regularly
  • Get at least 7 hours of sleep, per night

These recommendations are the typical prescription for prevention from most practiced care providers. However, there’s one more key step that could make the difference for you this flu season: taking a probiotic.

The Proof Is in the Research

Published health studies such as Probiotics Effects on Cold and Influenza-like Symptom Incidence and Duration in Children1 from the medical journal Pediatrics, demonstrate the validity of probiotics as a preventative health supplement.

For example, this particular study divided healthy children, ages 3-5, into three separate groups:

  • Those receiving a placebo (104 participants)
  • Those receiving a probiotic containing Lactobacillus acidophilus (110 participants)
  • Those receiving a probiotic containing Lactobacillus acidophilus & Bifidobacterium lactis (112 participants)

For the purposes of the study, each child received their supplement daily, for 6 months, under close cold and flu symptom scrutiny.

At the end of the study researches found that, when compared to the placebo groups, the other two participant groups had reduced flu-like symptoms, antibiotic use and days missed from school – a huge relief to parents and physicians alike.

 

What The Research Means for You

Studies in adults2, similar to the Pediatrics study, have been performed and the results indicate similar findings, particularly in cases of upper respiratory infections.

Scientific outcomes infer that this occurs because oral probiotic supplements can stimulate the immune system in the gastrointestinal tract. Once this occurs, the GI tract typically begins producing more immune cells. Those cells can then stop cold and flu inflammation before it becomes severe and attack viruses as they invade the lining of the respiratory tract3,4,5,6. Thus, the body eradicates viruses before they settle.

 

Take Home Message

Results like these highlight the importance of taking a daily, oral probiotic supplement during flu season – particularly one containing the potent bacteria strain combination of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria in a serving size of 10 billion colonies or more.

Try a probiotic, like EndoMune Advanced Probiotic or EndoMune Kids Advanced Probiotic for your little ones, that meets these standards to help counter disastrous flu symptoms this autumn and winter.

1 Probiotic effects on cold and influenza-like symptom incidence and duration in children.Leyer GJ, Li S, Mubasher ME, Reifer C, Ouwehand AC; Pediatrics. 2009 Aug;124(2):e172-9. Epub 2009 Jul 27

2 Probiotics for the prevention of respiratory tract infections: a systematic review.Vouloumanou EK, Makris GC, Karageorgopoulos DE, Falagas ME; Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2009 Sep;34(3):197.e1-10. Epub 2009 Jan 28.
Probiotics in intestinal and non-intestinal infectious diseases–clinical evidence.
Hatakka K, Saxelin M; Curr Pharm Des. 2008;14(14):1351-67. Review.

3 Probiotic bacteria reduced duration and severity but not the incidence of common cold episodes in a double blind, randomized, controlled trial.de Vrese M, Winkler P, Rautenberg P, Harder T, Noah C, Laue C, Ott S, Hampe J, Schreiber S, Heller K, Schrezenmeir J; Vaccine. 2006 Nov 10;24(44-46):6670-4. Epub 2006 Jun 6.

4  Probiotics in intestinal and non-intestinal infectious diseases–clinical evidence. Hatakka K, Saxelin M; Curr Pharm Des. 2008;14(14):1351-67. Review.

5 Molecular and cellular basis of microflora-host interactions.Winkler P, Ghadimi D, Schrezenmeir J, Kraehenbuhl JP; J Nutr. 2007 Mar;137(3 Suppl 2):756S-72S. Review.

6 Probiotic and prebiotic influence beyond the intestinal tract. Lenoir-Wijnkoop I, Sanders ME, Cabana MD, Caglar E, Corthier G, Rayes N, Sherman PM, Timmerman HM, Vaneechoutte M, Van Loo J, Wolvers DA; Nutr Rev. 2007 Nov;65(11):469-89. Review

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Give Your Good Bacteria A Fighting Chance

Disease, Drug interactions, Healthy Aging / By

All bacteria are bad, right?

While this may be the most common assumption, it’s far from correct. Recent innovations in medical science have tested the impact of good bacteria against the disease causing powers of bad bacteria. The result? A wealth of evidence to support the claim that maintaining a lifetime of good health is all about balance – and that supports keeping a balanced number of bacteria strains in the body, as well as maintaining a balanced diet and night’s sleep.

Scientists theorize that much of the reason why modern man has developed rising percentages of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases connects to our rising use of antibiotics. Antibiotics eradicate bacteria, regardless of type. Any dose of antibiotics has been shown to lower the numbers of both good and bad bacteria, with each proceeding dosage causing all bacteria strain types to take longer and longer to rebound colony numbers. Eventually, the medication stamps out some strains altogether.

In an ideal world, only bad bacteria strains would be extinguished, but sometimes, beneficial strains get weeded out too.

While this by no means implies that antibiotics are bad – they are invaluable in combatting a number of different illnesses. It does, however, make the case for relying upon antibiotics only in cases where they prove ABSOLUTELY necessary. Additionally, it opens the door to alternative, more sustainable pro-health practices such as incorporating a non-dairy probiotic product like EndoMune into the daily dietary routine.

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Big Problems From Bad Gut Bacteria

Disease, Healthy Aging / By

Recent studies on the digestive environments of individuals of varying age, weight and habitude have indicated that obesity may impact the balance or growth of good and bad gut bacteria. While no definitive research has yet been released, preliminary studies show that at least 26 different strains of separate intestinal bacteria appear in the gut of obese individuals that do not appear in individuals of a healthy weight. Unfortunately, these specific bacteria strains possess links to obesity related illnesses like high blood pressure and insulin resistance.
Probiotics may help to level out the imbalance of gut bacteria, but so far, no definitive results have been released.
Learn more about the study, its results and the implications for weight-related health here.

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Probiotics: Naturally Good

Disease, Probiotics / By

Probiotics are bacteria that help maintain the natural balance of the intestines’ microflora. The largest group of piobiotic bacterica, Lactobacillus acidophilus, is found in naturally in the intestines — as are many good gut bacteria used in probiotic suppliments.

Studies support the theory that probiotic supplements are not likely to harm the user. Rather, research suggests that probiotics can benefit the user by helping to create a balance digestive system and relieve the stomach pain or abdominal discomfort caused by diarrhea, gas, and cramping. They may also help to prevent the onset of vaginal yeast infections and urinary tract infections.

Although not a medical guarantee, probiotics have been seen to deliver a number of health benefits to those who take them. Read the full article here for more information, and consider trying a probiotics like EndoMune Advanced to see if probiotics could be right for you.

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Food Borne Illness Rears It’s Ugly Head

Disease, Drug interactions, Probiotics / By

Just this past August, Middle America saw the second year in a two-year salmonella outbreak. This root of this most recent outbreak was contaminated cantaloupe, grown stateside.

In the past, most food borne illness epidemics found their origin in porous fruits grown south of the border in Central America. However in recent years, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have discovered more and more epidemics originating with homegrown produce.

Legal and consumer actions teams grow angrier and more outspoken with each contamination outbreak. While CDC standards continue to work in favor of these interest groups and the consumers they represent, the typical individual would do well to take safe consumption matters into their own hands, as an added precaution.

One of the best ways to prepare to withstand food borne illness is to take a probiotic. Doing so has the potential to strengthen your immune and digestive systems to withstand the painful, and sometimes fatal, food poisoning symptoms of acute diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramping.

To learn more on this recent salmonella outbreak and for information on how to avoid eating contaminated food, please read the full article posted here.

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Deficiencies in Regulating C. Diff

Digestive Health, Disease / By

C. diff is a bacterial infection that spreads via fecal contamination and takes root once bad bacteria take over the intestinal bacteria balance.  This infection creates a number of increasingly serious symptoms like diarrhea, weakness, cramping, and vomiting.  It is a 100% preventable condition, but often times, a one-time C diff infection leads to long-term complications, health risks, or death.

Few hospitals and caregiver centers take the necessary action to prevent C. diff outbreaks.  The negligence occurs primarily due to budgetary restrictions.  However, the implications are dire.  Every year thousands of patients lose their lives to C. diff infections, which invade their digestive system, spreading spores taking over, and working against good and bacteria.  Antibiotics further the spread, preliminarily killing off the good bacteria needed to combat the digestive tract infection.

Take a probiotic like EndoMune Advanced Probiotic when taking a antibiotic may help prepare your gut to combat serious infections like C. diff.  The risk of approaching these infections with too light an attitude is dire.  In the article linked below, you’ll learn about the ways C. diff has been spreading in hospitals and the basic steps that can be taken to prevent future infection incidents.

Article

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Get a Probiotic Radiation Shield for Your Gut

Disease, Probiotics / By

Cancer and its treatments take a toll on the human body. One of the most common methods of cancer treatment, radiation, indiscriminately destroy both malignant and healthy cells potentially creating its own host of long-term health problems.  However, new studies with lab mice out of St. Louis, Missouri’s Washington University School of Medicine have found that radiation therapy patients who take probiotics prior to receiving radiation cancer treatment therapy may gain intestinal radio-protective benefits.

Astoundingly, the study’s implications reach even further than cancer patients additionally detailing potential probiotic benefits for all individual hoping to protect themselves from general radiation or at-risk for radiation contamination.

Learn more about this study’s conclusions on the benefits of probiotics by reading the full article from NaturalNews.com

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Probiotic-Assisted Antibiotic Diarrhea Prevention

Disease, Probiotics / By

Probiotics have a proven effect on children with antibiotic-induced diarrhea and acute infectious diarrhea. So it stands to reason that probiotics also help adults avoid these conditions. Recently, a study was released that inconclusively implied that probiotics had a positive effect on regulating and preventing adult antibiotic diarrhea. Results leaned toward the positive, but the presence of unexplained heterogeneity in the study’s results gives support for further analysis and examination.

For full details on the results of this probiotic study, please check out the full article, here.

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How To Avoid Traveler’s Diarrhea

Diet, Digestive Health, Disease / By

Dear EndoMune subscribers,

It is summertime and that often means going on a vacation. This newsletter will give you some tips on how to avoid a common gastrointestinal illness while traveling.

During the peak travel seasons, we are bombarded by the Internet and television with all kinds of travel offers. Some trips are just a state or two away, but some journeys extend out of the United States to less developed countries.

This month’s newsletter is on traveler’s diarrhea (TD), a common problem encountered by vacationers visiting Latin America, the Middle East, India and South Asia.

I want to begin with a case report.

Case report

Recently back from her honeymoon at a Playa del Carmen resort in Mexico, Lisa visited her physician complaining of crampy abdominal pain, low-grade fever and diarrhea.

The first 4 days of the trip were terrific. The beaches and activities were wonderful and so was the food. In addition to the fresh fruits and seafood, Lisa particularly enjoyed the salad bar.

Unfortunately, on the fifth day she woke experiencing abdominal cramps and then diarrhea. What a way to end the honeymoon!!

Was there anything that Lisa could have done to prevent developing TD? (See answer at end of this month’s newsletter).

Overview

Diarrhea is the most common medical complaint for Americans visiting developing countries. It is estimated that for Americans traveling internationally, 9.5 to 15.9 million will experience TD. Most episodes last 3-4 days without therapy, but some infections can cause severe diarrhea and dehydration requiring hospitalization, IV fluids and antibiotics.

TD is due to consuming food or water that has been contaminated with fecal matter resulting from poor personal sanitary and public health conditions.

The organisms that cause the diarrhea are bacteria, viruses and parasites. Bacteria like E. coli, Shigella, Salmonella and Campylobacter account for 80% of the episodes of TD. The type of bacterial pathogen depends on the region travelled.

In the medical journal, Current Gastroenterology Report, an article entitled Advances in the Treatment of Traveler’s Diarrhea1 discusses recent recommendations on how to prevent and treat TD.

Prevention

Diet: Food and water are the most common sources of infection. Reduce your risk of TD by ordering all of your foods well-cooked. Avoid raw vegetables and the skin of unpeeled fruits. Tap water and ice also present a high risk. That includes ice in sodas. The general recommendation to avoid TD is to “boil it, cook it, peel it, or forget it”. Even if it smells and looks great…don’t eat food from street vendors!!

Medications

Antibiotics can prevent TD, but it is not generally recommended to prescribe antibiotics as a prophylaxis due to the potential for adverse drug reactions and the development of drug resistant organisms.
Bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto Bismol) provides a protection rate of 60% against TD when two tablets are taken four times daily. It does cause the tongue and stool to turn black and can induce ringing in the ears.
Probiotic clinical trials using a probiotic or a placebo to prevent TD found that 85% of episodes were prevented by probiotics. The dosage of probiotic bacteria given and the type of organisms varied. The analysis found that probiotics containing Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria strains were effective and so was the yeast, Saccharomyces boulardii. However, at this point it is still difficult to generalize that all probiotics are effective since the amount and strains of probiotic bacteria utilized varied in the different trials.

Treatment

Fluids: Fluids and electrolytes are major concerns during an episode of TD. Drinking fluids like water and rehydration packets are very important, as is eating salty soups and saltine crackers.

Antimotility Agents: Bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto Bismol) and loperimide (Imodium) taken at the onset of diarrhea can lessen the severity and duration of the episode. They do not cure the infection, and they often are taken in combination with an antibiotic.

Antibiotics: Based on established guidelines, antibiotics are generally recommended if there are 3 or more loose stools in eight hours. Fever and blood in stools are other symptoms indicating the need for antibiotics. Most physicians are comfortable prescribing an antibiotic for their patients to have in case they do develop TD.

The most commonly prescribed antibiotic is a quinolone like Cipro. However, there are regions like Thailand where the bacteria are resistant to Cipro, and azithromycin (Zithromax) is recommended.

Probiotics: Probiotic organisms may help in preventing and treating TD in a number of ways.

They produce antibacterial substances that kill invading pathogens.
They adhere to the intestinal lining cells and act as a shield against invading harmful bacteria.
They stimulate the immune system to produce a response against the pathogens.
Recommendations To Prevent TD:

1) Start taking a good probiotic like EndoMune on a daily basis. Begin at least 2-3 days before starting the trip. When traveling, EndoMune will do fine at room temperature. It is best not to store probiotics at temperatures greater than 85 degrees for prolonged periods.

2) Buy a bottle of Pepto Bismol and a box of Imodium to bring with you just in case you develop TD.

3) Check with your physician about getting a prescription for the appropriate antibiotic for TD.

Final Comments

I hope your travels are safe, joyful and healthy. I think Lisa would have been able to enjoy her entire honeymoon if she had avoided the salad bar and the skin of unpeeled fruits, and if she had taken a daily dose of EndoMune.

Eat healthy, exercise and live well!!!
Best Wishes,
Dr. Hoberman

1) Advances in the treatment of travelers’ diarrhea. Paredes-Paredes M, Flores-Figueroa J, Dupont HL. Curr Gastroenterol Rep. 2011 Oct;13(5):402-7. Review.

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Vaginal Yeast & Urinary Tract Infections

Disease, Drug interactions, Women’s Health / By

This month is directed to the female readers, but the men are also invited to read it.

I am often asked about the benefits of Probiotics in preventing recurrent vaginal and urinary tract infections.  It is well known that the lactobacillus organisms are the major bacteria populating the vaginal lining cells (mucosa) and it’s these organisms that act as a barrier to prevent infections.

Scientific investigations have proven that female urinary tract infections result due to bacteria arising from the intestinal tract.  These bacteria spread to the vagina, then enter and infect the urinary bladder.

Research studies have discovered how lactobacilli can enhance the immune system against infections; Different strains of lactobacilli have specific benefits.

For instance, certain strains can produce bacterocins, antibiotics against specific infectious organisms.  Other lactobacilli produce a biofilm that prevents infectious bacteria from adhering and colonizing the lining cells.  Additionally, some lactobacilli produce hydrogen peroxide, which is bacterocidal to many of the pathogenic bacteria. It’s these mechanism and others that have been shown to be important in maintaining the health of the female urogenital tract.

Women have known for decades that yogurt may help prevent vaginal yeast infections. The normal vaginal mucosa is colonized by Lactobacillus acidophilus which is in some yogurts.  This bacteria is able to form lactic acid which lowers the pH and prevents the growth of Candida albicans.  Unfortunately, taking antibiotics can kill Lactobacillus acidophilus and allow for the development of a vaginal yeast infection.

Candida is always present in low numbers within the intestinal tract and is ready to populate when given the opportunity.  When antibiotics are taken, the good bacteria are reduced and the fungus can grow and spread.

There have been a number of studies and reviews on the benefits of taking probiotics containing different strains of lactobacillus bacteria.  When the appropriate strains have been given, the recurrence rate of urinary tract infections has decreased.1

In addition, oral probiotics have been shown to lessen vaginal yeast infections.2

Thanks for your interest in EndoMune.

Eat healthy and live well!

LawrenceJ Hoberman MD

(1) Probiotics for prevention of recurrent urinary tract infections in women: a review of the evidence from microbiological and clinical studies.- Falagas ME – Drugs – 01-JAN-2006; 66(9): 1253-61

(2) Probiotics for the prevention of recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis: a review.  Falagas ME – J Antimicrob Chemother – 01-AUG-2006; 58(2): 266-72

Take Home Message

If you are prone to recurrent urinary tract infections or vaginal yeast infections, consider taking a probiotic that contains several strains of lactobacillus, including Lactobacillus acidophilus….like EndoMune.  Also, don’t forget to take a probiotic when prescribed an antibiotic.

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