Probiotics for good health
PROBIOTICS, often known as good bacteria, are crucial in strengthening our body’s immunity, protecting gut health and regulating metabolism.
Almost 70% of our immune system is located in the gut. Therefore, it is vital to keep the gastrointestinal barrier intact to prevent bacteria invasion.
In the gut, probiotics help protect against harmful bacteria by producing anti-bacteria substances, competing with them for colonisation and producing mucin to enhance the epithelial barrier.
Studies have found that changes in the microflora (the good and the bad bacteria) composition are associated with several health problems such as irritable bowel syndrome, gastroenteritis, colorectal cancer and candida infection.
Two clinically studied probiotic strains, Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5 and Bifidobacterium lactis BB12, have been proven to improve children’s immunity.
According to a study published in the International Journal of Food Microbiology in 1998, children who fed on Bifidobacterium lactis BB12 for eight days had an almost threefold increase in immunoglobulin A.
Immunoglobulin A, one of the body’s antibodies, acts as the first line of defence in the immune function of mucous membranes, preventing bacteria from entering the body.
Children commonly suffer from constipation, a bloated stomach and stomach aches. Besides fibre, probiotics can help improve the bowel function of children.
Children with lactose intolerance may take Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5 to help them digest lactose.
Prebiotics and probiotics are not the same. Probiotics are beneficial bacteria while prebiotics are food to these bacteria.
Prebiotics such as inulin, galacto-oligosaccharides and fructooligosaccharides are non-digestible carbohydrates that nourish the good bacteria in the intestine.
Probiotics can ferment prebiotics and produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) in the gut. The SCFAs lower the pH level in the intestine, thus enlarging the intestinal mucosa for better nutrient absorption.
Bifidobacterium lactis BB12 can ferment inulin and helps in increasing calcium absorption in the body.
A combination of probiotics Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5 and Bifidobacterium lactis BB12 with prebiotic inulin is the first clinically proven synbiotic (product containing both probiotic and prebiotic) in Malaysia.
No two strains of probiotics are the same in their functions – each has strain-specific benefits. For example, Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5 and Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM are two strains of the same species with different health benefits.
Probiotics need to be alive for them to deliver health benefits to humans.
The LA-5 and BB12 probiotic strains have two billion CFU (colony-forming units) upon consumption, making them a good choice of probiotics for children’s health.
This article is brought to you by BiO-LiFE Marketing Sdn Bhd.
For more information, call BiO-LiFE’s customer care at 03-7882 8888 (Monday to Friday from 8am to 5pm) or e-mail health@biolife.com.my.