What are probiotics?

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was consulted with Specialist Doctor I Tran Quoc Vinh - Emergency Doctor - Department of Resuscitation - Emergency - Vinmec Nha Trang International General Hospital.
Probiotics are probiotics that are commonly found on drugstore shelves. However, their real role in digestive system health, and how to use probiotics is appropriate for each person, not everyone understands.

1. What are probiotics?

Probiotics are generally defined as live strains of bacteria that, when taken in adequate amounts, confer health benefits to the user. In a nutshell, probiotics are good bacteria that make it easier for the digestive system to digest food, stay healthy, and fight disease.
In fact, many people seek to use probiotics for general health benefits while this is also a doctor's treatment for digestive disorders, improving sugar function. intestine. What's more, even healthy people can benefit from probiotics, reducing the frequency of gastrointestinal discomforts such as bloating, cramps, diarrhea, and constipation.
Scientists are always exploring and discovering more new probiotics that act as probiotics to suit many different audiences. However, the two most common groups of bacteria commonly used to produce human probiotics are Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. In addition, yeast, Saccharomyces boulardii and some strains of E. coli are also potential "candidates" to be used as probiotics.
The above bacterial strains are inactivated, lyophilized and prepared in the form of capsules, tablets, powder or oral suspension. Once inside the body, the bacteria will become the active form. However, probiotics are readily available in a well-rounded daily diet as in some foods including yogurt and fermented products. One advantage of synthetic probiotic supplements, though, is that they are highly concentrated, have been properly formulated, are easy to store, and have a longer shelf life than natural probiotics. In contrast, food-based probiotics are often identified as safe, non-medical, more natural, and can be taken without a doctor's special prescription and side effects. unexpected.

2. What is the mechanism of action of probiotics in the digestive system?

Probiotics work in the digestive system mainly by promoting the health of the body's immune system and gut, suppressing harmful bacteria that can cause disease, and re-culturing a safe environment of beneficial bacteria.
Specific digestive benefits of probiotics are listed below:
Reduce the severity and duration of some common types of infectious diarrhea such as traveler's diarrhea or diarrhea caused by long-term antibiotic use Symptomatic treatment of constipation and abdominal bloating Improve symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome Prevent and treat chronic colitis, diverticulitis Increase resistance, improve symptoms of colic in exclusively breastfed babies Prevent harmful bacteria from growing and multiplying in the intestinal tract, attaching to the intestinal mucosa and causing disease Prevent the absorption of toxins by pathogenic bacteria by improving the health of the intestinal mucosal barrier to fight infections Strengthens the ability of the immune system in the intestinal tract and throughout the body in general to be ready to fight any invading bacteria Illnesses can happen at any time

3. How to use probiotics in the treatment of digestive diseases?

Diarrhea Many studies have shown that probiotics can help prevent or treat diarrhea associated with long-term antibiotic regimens. Furthermore, probiotics may also reduce the severity and duration of acute infectious diarrhea in children and adults and may help prevent it.
Constipation By taking probiotic supplements or eating foods high in probiotics can help treat symptoms of constipation in adults by helping to soften stools and ease their passage through the colon. Probiotics can help control the transit time of intestinal solids and increase the frequency of bowel movements.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome There is growing scientific evidence that probiotics can help relieve IBS symptoms such as abdominal discomfort, bloating and gas. This effect is achieved in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome in both adults and children.
Inflammatory bowel disease There is ample evidence that certain probiotics may benefit people with ulcerative colitis in addition to standard therapies. However, the use of probiotics alone in the treatment of this condition is not recommended.
Indeed, good microorganisms will help block the initial attack of inflammatory factors and prevent recurrence after remission with antibiotic regimens. Probiotics may also be recommended to treat mild IBD symptoms or as maintenance therapy for people who are in remission.

4. Using probiotics for the wrong indications can cause harm or not?

Probiotics are defined as strains of beneficial bacteria and have a long history of safety, particularly in healthy individuals. However, because this is also a drug and needs to be prescribed by a doctor when used to ensure safety. The abuse of this probiotic or improper use will not give any effect or experience unwanted side effects.
The risk of harmful effects from the use of probiotics is often seen in people who are seriously ill or whose immune systems are already compromised. Likewise, when probiotics are being considered for high-risk populations, such as premature infants or patients in intensive care, the potential risk of probiotics should be carefully weighed. with their benefits.
Potentially harmful effects of probiotics are infection , contamination of exotoxins produced by consumable strains of microorganisms and also transfer of antibiotic resistance genes from these microorganisms to other microorganisms habitants in the gastrointestinal tract. In addition, the risk of infection can also occur when prepared products of probiotics are not pure because they contain other strains of microorganisms, which can cause serious health risks.
Therefore, it is difficult to know whether probiotic supplements are really suitable for each person's body or not. With so many probiotic products on the market, choosing the right one is a challenge. Therefore, it is best to consult a doctor or pharmacist for guidance on the appropriate use of the product, the correct indication and the amount to use. Also, it's still a good idea to include probiotics from natural products like probiotic yogurt and naturally fermented foods as part of a well-rounded diet. healthy.
In summary, probiotics are good microorganisms, often used to treat and prevent functional disorders and physical damage in the intestinal tract, especially problems on the digestive system caused by antibiotic use. However, the use of probiotics, although generally considered safe, always requires professional consultation, both to achieve effectiveness and to avoid unwanted effects, especially in high-risk subjects. .
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