Quest Vitamins LTD, |
Lactic BacteriaDESCRIPTIONLactic bacteria are health-giving bacteria that have the specific property of transforming sugars into lactic acid. Their role is most important in the production of fermented food products such as yoghurt, kefir, cheese, buttermilk, etc. Some well known lactic bacteria are Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Streptococcus thermophilus, Bifidobacterium bifidum, etc. Lactic bacteria are found in the Digestive System, Skin and vaginal mucosa where they are essential protective agents. FUNCTIONSThe main action of friendly lactic bacteria is to discourage the presence of harmful putrefactive and pathogenic bacteria in the gut. Lactic acid production is the key to this action as harmful bacteria do not thrive in an acidic environment. Lactic bacteria also produce their own specific antibiotics. For example, Lactobacillus acidophilus produces acidophiline, L.bulgaricus produces bulgarican, and so on. These antibiotics further enhance the ability of lactic bacteria to fight infectious micro-organisms. SUPPLEMENTAL USESLactic bacteria supplements can be used in many applications - both preventative and therapeutic. Some of these are listed below: Gastro-Intestinal Upset: Constipation: Lactose Intolerance: Vaginal Conditions: Drug usage: Immune Stimulant: Furthermore, steroids and the contraceptive pill are also known to deplete lactic bacteria, and a supplement may be advisable for people on these medications. SAFETYAs long as carefully researched human-compatible strains of bacteria are used together with the strictest attention to INTERACTIONS AND CONTRA-INDICATIONSAntibiotics and lactic bacteria supplements may be taken concurrently, but a few hours apart in order to avoid the friendly bacteria being destroyed. FURTHER RESEARCHPrebiotic oligosaccharides on intestinal flora in healthy infants Effects of supplementing prebiotic oligosaccharides to formula for healthy infants were studied. Ninety-seven infants were included into the study; among them 42 breast-fed infants, 14 infants fed formula supplemented with 0.4 g/100ml oligosacchides (9 to 1 mixture of galacto and fructooligosaccharides) and 13 infants fed control formula were followed up throughout the 12 week long study period. Numbers of Bifidobacteria were significantly higher in infants receiving the formula supplemented with prebiotic oligosaccharides both at the 14th and 28th day of the study. In this study, supplementation of infant formula with prebiotic oligosaccharides resulted in ameliorating the difference in intestinal flora between formula fed and breat fed healthy infants. Orv Hetil. 2005 Nov 27; 146 (48):2445-50 REFERENCES1. Handbook of Dietary Supplements, Pamela Mason, Blackwell Science, 1995. | 
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