Bacterial Prescriptions Health Article

At the top of the modern food chain, we generally expect our foods to be clean and free of bacteria. Yet there is an emerging trend in this country to purposefully consume special strains of beneficial bacteria that may be missing in our ultra-sanitized food supply.

Probiotics (meaning "for life") are active bacteria found in some foods and also distilled into capsule form. Proponents claim probiotics will improve the balance of microorganisms in the intestines. Before the arrival of modern food-handling procedures, our food contained a lot more bacteria, both good and bad. But with improved sanitation, food scientists and government strictures eliminated not only the bad bugs that cause infection, but many of the beneficial kinds as well.

Of the thousands of different species of known bacteria, researchers are focusing on 20 helpful strains that normally reside in the gut. Good bacteria stimulate the immune system to fight off damaging organisms by eating them up or producing antibodies and other chemicals to neutralize them.

"We've worked hard to get some bad actors, such as E. coli, out of our food, but now it's time to get some good actors back in," says Jose Saavedra, associate professor of pediatrics at Johns Hopkins University. "Our guts were not designed for a sterile environment."

Yogurt with live and active cultures is one of the only widely available food sources of probiotics in this country. However, Saavedra does not consider yogurt a reliable immunity booster, because the types and amounts of bacterial strains added to yogurts vary. Richard Colletti, a pediatric gastroenterologist in northern New England, agrees. He recommends a brand of probiotic called Culturelle (Lactobacillus GG) in capsule form, for selected patients taking antibiotics and suffering from diarrhea caused by the bacterium Clostridium difficile. Colletti believes Culturelle may also help alleviate digestive problems acquired when traveling in underdeveloped countries. When he accepted invitations to speak at conferences in Mexico, Egypt and China over the past two years, he packed his Culturelle.

Aside from Culturelle (culturelle.com) and a more expensive powdered mix of several beneficial strains marketed as VSL#3, Saavedra says many commercial probiotic products suffer from questionable marketing claims and inadequate quality control. "There is no government regulation and no guarantees that you will have an effective product. Buyers should beware," he warns. Fortified foods, he believes, will ultimately be better sources than pills.

The future of probiotics looks promising: researchers are investigating their efficacy in the prevention and treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's and ulcerative colitis), urinary tract infections and skin allergies, such as eczema. Probiotics also appear to support the immune system and, for the millions of people who must take antibiotics, these good-guy bacteria may help restore intestinal balance and boost overall immunity.

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