Gut
The most readily apparent benefit of
consuming probiotics is their impact on
digestion. We intuitively understand that
consuming probiotics would have a positive
impact on the gut because that is precisely where they end
up after being consumed. One of the most common uses of
probiotics is in addressing diarrhea and constipation. Studies
have shown that probiotics can help treat a wide variety of
types of diarrhea, including antibiotic-associated diarrhea;
interestingly enough, they can also have a seemingly opposite
impact on the digestive tract by preventing constipation.
Another powerful link between the gut and overall health lies
in the development of obesity. A study recently published
in the scientific journal JAMA Pediatrics compared the gut
bacteria of children who were breastfed with children who
were given formula early in life. Those children who were
given formula underwent changes in their microbiome,
including elevated levels of Firmicutes relative to Bacteroides,
that were associated with an increased risk of being
overweight or obese in the first year of life. Another study
linked the beneficial weight loss generated by every-otherday
(intermittent) fasting to changes in the microbiome
precipitated by the diet itself. Every-other-day fasting
elevates acetate and lactate, two fermentation byproducts
of the microbiome, and selectively stimulates beige
thermogenesis. However, these results were not observed
in microbiota-depleted mice models, suggesting that the
microbiome itself likely plays a critical role in facilitating
the weight loss commonly seen with intermittent fasting.
Brain
One of the most powerful connections between the
gut microbiome and the other major systems of the
body lies in the microbiome’s ability to regulate
systemic inflammation. Inflammation is at the root
of most of the debilitating chronic neurological conditions
we face today, so probiotic interventions that balance
the gut microbiome and reduce inflammation have the
potential to drastically improve brain health.
The most common inflammatory condition that may be
influenced by probiotic interventions is Alzheimer’s disease,
which is one of the most pervasive and debilitating forms
of dementia. One study recently published in the journal
Nature evidenced the connection between the microbiota
and the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s using 3xTg-AD mice, a
unique, triple transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer’s. The
study found that inducing changes in the microbiome of these
mice positively impacted neuronal pathways in their brain,
slowing cognitive decline and the progression of Alzheimer’s
disease. While the results of an animal study cannot be directly
transferred to humans, the study still holds great promise in
helping us understand and combat this devastating condition
and presents a potential role for microbiota modulation in the
treatment of Alzheimer’s.
Other studies have shown that other little-understood
neurological conditions, such as attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder (ADHD), may be prevented or controlled with
probiotic interventions. It has been suggested that gut
dysbiosis, or an imbalance in the microbiome, could play
a critical role in the development of ADHD. Interestingly,
children with ADHD suffer from constipation at an almost
three-fold higher rate than those without ADHD. This is
compelling evidence that there is a connection between what
is happening inside the brains and guts of children suffering
from this condition.
Immune System
There is a growing understanding among the
scientists studying autoimmune conditions
that autoimmunity may originate in imbalances
in the gut microbiome.
Many common autoimmune conditions, including multiple
sclerosis and Crohn’s disease, have roots in the gut
microbiome and have been shown to respond favorably
to probiotic interventions. It has also been theorized that
psoriasis, a skin condition long-thought to be driven by the
immune system, might actually be driven by a “leaky” gut that
allows lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LPS) to get into the
bloodstream. Probiotic interventions have shown promise in
reinforcing the gut lining, thereby decreasing gut permeability
and allowing the gut microbiome to rebalance and flourish.
Finally, specific strains of probiotic bacteria like L. plantarum
and L. acidophilus have been shown to boost immunity and
help protect people from common infections like the flu and
common cold.
Given the wide-ranging importance of the microbiome in
overall health, the obvious next question is: what can be done to
promote the vitality and diversity of your microbiome? There are
two sides to this: things to avoid and things to emphasize.
There are a number of everyday items that may disrupt your
microbiome and should be avoided, including antibiotics,
gluten, natural and artificial sugars, chlorine, home goods
made with BPA-laden plastics and many of the artificial
ingredients found in processed foods.
Conversely, consuming a diet that contains plentiful prebiotic
fiber—a specific type of carbohydrate that humans cannot
digest but that our gut bacteria thrive on—foods rich in
probiotic species of bacteria, and supplementing with those
probiotics that are not readily available through food sources,
can help ensure your microbiome flourishes.
The growing science of the human microbiome and its wideranging
impact on overall health are absolutely fascinating.
Our ability to harness the power of the microbiome to prevent
or control a variety of chronic and acute conditions is only
starting to be understood, but it is nonetheless an incredibly
important development in medical science. Hopefully you can
take advantage of some of the potential benefits discussed
above and implement them in your daily life to improve your
health and longevity!
Extraordinary Health ™ • Vol 39 25