Effective Use of Probiotics

review by Katherine Duff

by Michelle Schoffro Cook, PhD, DNM

Da Capo Press, 44 Farnsworth Street, 3rd Floor; Boston, MA 02210

© 2015; hardcover; $25.99; 292 pp.

The marketing of probiotics can be found everywhere in popular media now. But as people self-administer based on marketing, their efforts may very well be wasted. The Probiotic Promise, by Michelle Schoffro Cook provides the background in this emerging field of research and how to use probiotics effectively and target various health conditions based on current research.

The statistics of the bacteria that make up our microbiome are quite amazing. We harbor about 100 trillion bacteria in our bodies, compared with 50 to 100 trillion human cells. And though we have historically regarded bacteria as invaders, we now know that some are essential to the proper functioning of the human body. Presently, the Human Microbiome Project is cataloguing the bacteria found in the nasal passages, oral cavities, skin, gastrointestinal tract, and urogenital tract in an effort to determine what is normal. An example of what the project has found to be normal is that the microorganisms on one’s left hand are different than those found on the right hand.

For how the bacteria can affect human health, the author looks to the gut, where an imbalance of good and bad bacteria can be addressed. She notes that the environment of the intestines is usually 20% beneficial bacteria, 30% harmful bacteria, and 50% that is considered intermediate. Depending upon one’s health status as determined by diet and lifestyle choices, the intermediate bacteria can be swung to become beneficial or harmful. Especially problematic is a diet high in sugar, which feeds the harmful bacteria and yeasts, and consumption of animal protein, which causes growth of microorganisms that promote inflammation. The overgrowth of harmful yeasts such Candida albicans can show up as any of the symptoms in a long list included in the book. Inflammation plays a role in heart disease, autoimmune illnesses, allergies, to name just a few.

Besides consuming a diet lower in sugars and animal proteins, the key to reestablishing balance in the gut is through probiotics. These are defined as “live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host.” Probiotics can be found in supplements and fermented foods. Whether in food or pill form, the main beneficial bacteria are in the Lactobacillacea and Bifidobacteriacea families. Within these families are strains that accomplish different tasks in the gut. In general, they can kill harmful bacteria, viruses, and fungi and reduce cytokines in the blood. In particular for example, Lactobacillus brevis is known as a booster of anticancer compounds in the intestines, and Lactobacillus rhamnosus manufactures enzymes that are anti-inflammatory.

Cook has combed the research for studies that have used bacteria to treat specific health problems. She lists those conditions and the bacteria used to treat. them Many of these entries, though, note that the research is still young and the possible treatments show promise at this point.

Purchasing probiotics presents unique problems compared with other supplements, which the author addresses very well. One must be sure that they have been refrigerated from point of production. Probiotics are inert until mixed with water, so they should be taken with adequate water. Cook lists the brand names of probiotics that contained much less than the label claimed, as well as those that did contain the amounts listed on the label. And while many people assume that they are getting their probiotics from yogurt, Cook lists those that have high sugar content and includes a method for testing whether your yogurt actually contains live cultures: by making a batch using the commercial product as the starter.

Her example of a marketing gimmick concerns a yogurt company that claimed exclusive use of bacterium called Bifidus regularis in its product. In truth, this is just a trademarked name for Bifidobacterium animalis DN-173010, which is not exclusive to anyone.

To be sure that you are actually getting probiotics in yogurt, Cook recommends making it yourself. A better choice, though, may be to add other fermented foods to the diet, such as unpasteurized sauerkraut, kimchi, miso, kombucha, and kefir. Included are recipes and advice for purchasing.

Research into the role of bacteria in human health is a hot area of study now, and so too is the marketing of the probiotic solution to health problems. As this book explains, there is much more to it than taking a one-size-fits-all supplement or believing the advertising. Cook teaches us how to use these microorganisms effectively, with valuable advice for the consumer and prescribing physicians alike.

Pearl: Probiotics are defined as “live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host.”