Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Technology & Services Section The Importance of Probiotics a report by Je s s i c a Va n d e n H o u t e n Enzymatic Therapy, Inc. Medical researchers and healthcare practitioners from around the world are focusing on the importance of probiotics, also known as healthy intestinal bacteria, microflora, friendly bacteria, active cultures, and flora, in the human diet. As the non-toxic, live bacteria are being recognized for the crucial role they play in improving digestive health and studied for their interconnectivity to every single function in the human body, probiotics are reshaping the way medical science views health.* The lingering question stumping scientists was how to keep these essential, active cultures intact in the body until they reach the intestines, where they need to arrive in live form to perform their beneficial functions.* The answer has become something of an art in scientific discovery. Independent testing has shown that most probiotics are unstable at the time of purchase and much less at the time of use since countless live bacteria products lose their effectiveness during shipping and over time on-shelf. The Goodness of Yogurt Protected by Science Two well-studied probiotics, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium longum, are the most important bacteria needed for a healthy digestive system.* Both hold significant positions in the gut microflora to provide health benefits such as increasing healthy intestinal flora.4 Yogurt is one source of probiotics but because it necessitates refrigeration it is not always a convenient option, nor does it provide a consistent amount of live bacteria serving to serving. When considering the human body’s harsh stomach acids, most probiotics, including those found in yogurt, may not survive the journey through the stomach and into the intestine. That is why many patients rely on supplements. Medical professionals often recommend a probiotic supplement to replenish the good bacteria in the intestinal microflora.* Plus, many patients appreciate getting the goodness of yogurt without the fat, calories, and sugar. Unfortunately, not all supplements deliver on their packaging claims. Independent testing has shown that most probiotics are unstable at the time of purchase and are much less stable at the time of use. Countless live bacteria products exposed to even just normal room temperatures as well as to stomach acid, end up with only a fraction of the live bacteria that are claimed on their labels. In fact, of 20 brands of probiotic supplements tested, only one contained exactly and only the organisms stated on the label.9 Enteric Coating Enteric coating of probiotics is intended to allow the passage of a tablet or capsule through the gastric fluids of the stomach and should reduce the chances of stomach upset or release of product contents before it reaches the intestines. However, due to the complexities involved with applying an enteric US GASTROENTEROLOGY REVIEW 2007 coating on a tablet or capsule, some enteric coatings do not entirely inhibit stomach acid from entering the encapsulation. As a result, stomach acid can interact with the sensitive bacteria, leading to a significant decrease in viability. Not to mention the fact that the enteric coating manufacturing process frequently utilizes solvents such as methacrylate copolymers. The tablets and capsules are sprayed with these solvents at high temperatures to create the enteric coating. This type of application further exposes microbes to conditions that can dramatically reduce the product shelf life. True Delivery ™ Technology A special process called True Delivery Technology helps assure an active, effective probiotic that delivers results precisely where they are needed in the intestines. This revolutionary proprietary sphere or ‘beadlike’ encapsulating process is a patented technique that protects the probiotic bacteria from stomach acid. The unparalleled process can be found with such products as Acidophilus Pearls™ active cultures from Enzymatic Therapy®, the leading provider of natural medicines and dietary supplements. The True Delivery process creates a seamless gelatin sphere, which consists of three layers. The inner layer is a paste of probiotic bacteria suspended in a protective oil suspension. The second layer actually ‘seals’ the bacteria in the capsule, protecting them from air, moisture, and the effects of heat. Probiotic bacteria are anaerobic organisms and the presence of oxygen can actually injure or kill them. Because probiotic bacteria are injured or destroyed by the acids of the stomach, the third, outermost layer of the sphere is specially developed to dissolve only in the alkaline environment of the intestines. This patented gelatin sphere protects the probiotic bacteria from the acid environment of the stomach so that they can successfully reach the intestine alive and intact. With this advanced encapsulation technique, probiotics remain stable at room temperature for up to 18 months. Many live bacteria products fail to meet their label claim in less than 12 months after being manufactured. Using this unique delivery system, studies show patented probiotics such as those found in Acidophilus Pearls deliver up to 900% more intact microflora to the intestine, compared with label claims from four leading competitive products including those with enteric coatings.8* Daily Digestive Maintenance Normal microflora of the large intestine help support and complete digestion through fermentation.1,6 The potential for occasional digestive discomfort increases when the capacity of colonic microflora to ferment 1 Technology & Services Section carbohydrates decreases.7 Oral ingestion of probiotics produces a stabilizing effect on the gut flora,2* but since probiotic bacteria do not permanently colonize in the body, daily replenishment is essential for health-promoting effects to persist.* After ingestion, probiotics must adhere to the wall of the intestine. Once attached to the intestinal wall, the bacteria are capable of multiplying and colonizing in the gut, thereby enhancing the immune response.1-3* With continual, everyday digestive health maintenance, probiotics can help alleviate such discomforts as occasional gas and constipation as well as symptoms of lactose intolerance.* For these reasons, probiotics are also a highly recommended option for intestinal health and bowel support when traveling.* Specially encapsulated probiotics, such as those using True Delivery Technology, require no refrigeration so they can be taken virtually anywhere without concern about their stability and effectiveness. More than Meets the Eye In addition to supporting digestive health, the powerful duo of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium longum also helps promote better utilization and bioavailability of nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, proteins, fats, and carbohydrates.5* Recognizing a Dependable Probiotic Product On a very basic level, medical professionals and patients alike must, at the very least, look at the package. If there is no date stamp, that is not a good sign. If it says the company guarantees there was a certain number of probiotic bacteria alive at the time of manufacture, think twice. That means that the company is not willing to claim the bacteria are alive when delivered to the target site, the intestine. If the product must be constantly refrigerated you do not want to be recommending it to patients. You cannot be certain of the conditions the product was exposed to before or during shipping. Say ‘yes’ to a probiotic that states the bacteria are guaranteed to be alive in the numbers claimed on the label until the date printed on the package, the ‘best by’ date. Trust a product that uses unique, cuttingedge science to deliver the probiotic bacteria in a form that uses spherical, sealed, triple coating to protect the bacteria. That company has taken the extra time and expense to make sure your patients reap the benefits that probiotics can offer. Not all Probiotics Products are Alike – Rely on a Trusted Source As stated earlier, the manufacturer of dietary supplements that utilizes the advanced True Delivery Technology required to develop a quality probiotic 1. 2. 3. 2 Macfarlane GT, Cummings JH, Probiotics and prebiotics: can regulating the activities of intestinal bacteria benefit health?, BMJ, 1999;318:999–1003. Gismondo MR, Drago L, Lombardi A, Review of probiotics available to modify gastrointestinal flora, Int J Antimicrob Agents, 1999;12:287–292. Famularo C, Moretti S, Marcellini, De Simone C, Stimulation of immunity by probiotics, Fuller, R ed, Probiotics 2 Applications and Practical Aspects, London, England, Chapman & Hall, 1997;133–161. 4. 5. 6. 7. such as Acidophilus Pearls is Enzymatic Therapy, Inc. (ETI), renowned as the nation’s leading provider of over 200 natural medicines and nutritional supplements. Through natural health retailers, ETI brings the best in traditional medicines and evidence-based science together to help consumers experience What Better Feels Like®. Headquartered in Green Bay, Wisconsin, ETI places nature and science at the forefront of every product they make. Bringing more rigorous scientific protocols to the field of complementary medicine and the supplement marketplace, the Enzymatic Therapy Scientific Advisory Board comprises some of the most prestigious and well-respected scientists, medical doctors, naturopathic doctors, and health specialists in the US. ETI also relies on the expertise of its research and development community, which includes PhDs with backgrounds in immunology, food science, nutrition, biology, and, yes, digestion. With these powerful resources, the company is able to provide better innovation and quality with clinically studied and clinically proven therapies as well as patented and proprietary ingredients from around the world. • ETI’s state-of-the-art 150,000 square-foot facility is both a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-registered drug establishment and certified organic processor by One Cert, a US Department of Agriculture (USDA) accredited certifying agent—the first dietary supplement company to achieve both. • With over 25 years of industry experience, their standards of quality are unsurpassed. • Each of their formulas is backed by solid research and is designed and tested for optimal impact in elevating the health of their consumers. • To help strengthen the knowledge of complementary medical alternatives, they offer Working Doctor Seminars as well as a Continuing Medical Education Series to health care professionals. When results matter, thousands of doctors and patients are turning to the cutting-edge, evidenced-based interventions from ETI. For more information on probiotic supplements including Acidophilus Pearls, visit www.enzy.com. You can also find referenced technical information about probiotics at www.ATDonline.org and www.natmedonline.com For those practitioners interested in providing a doctor-exclusive probiotic supplement as part of their dispensary, please call Integrative Therapeutics Inc. (a division of ETI) at 1.800.931.1709. This statement has not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. * Fuller R, Introduction, Fuller, R ed, Probiotics 2 Applications and Practical Aspects, London, England, Chapman & Hall, 1997;1–9. Witsell DL, Garrett CG, Yarbrough WG, et al., Effect of Lactobacillus acidophilus on antibiotic-associated gastrointestinal morbidity: a prospective randomized trial, J Otolaryngol, 1995;24:230–233. Gibson GR, Saavedra JM, Macfarlane S, Macfarlane G, Probiotics and intestinal infections, Fuller, R ed, Probiotics 2 Applications and Practical Aspects, London, England, Chapman & Hall 1997;10–39. De Simone C, Ciardi A, Grassi A, et al., Effect of Bifdobacterium 8. 9. bifidum and Lactobacillus acidophilus on gut mucosa and peripheral blood B lymphocytes, Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol, 1992;14:331–340. Probiotic viability after exposure to simulated gastric condition, 2001. Berman S, Safety and Reliability of Lactobacillus Supplements in Seattle, Washington (A Pilot Study), available at: http://www.ispub.com/ostia/index.php?xmlFilePath=journals/ijam/ vol1n2/lacto.xm US GASTROENTEROLOGY REVIEW 2007