Care for your loved ones: Probiotics can contribute to a stronger immune system
Probiotics play a key role in digestive health and microbiome health for you and your loved ones. It can assist to balance and restore the natural gut bacteria. The gut holds a robust population of beneficial bacteria and can help crowd out harmful bacteria that effect our immune system.
You can support your gut bacteria by consuming ‘good’ bacteria, which are found in probiotics.
One of the immune system’s jobs is to protect us from harmful bacteria. You can support your gut bacteria by consuming ‘good’ bacteria, which are found in probiotics.
The beneficial microorganisms provided by probiotics, can provide health benefits when consumed from the ability of probiotics to restore the natural balance of gut bacteria[1]. In addition, probiotic bacteria can influence the activity of our own immune cells, regulating inflammation, barrier function, and cell-to-cell signaling[2].
Other Health benefits
An imbalance in your gut is caused when too many ‘bad’ bacteria and not enough ‘good’ bacteria are present in your gut. It can happen due to illness, medication such as antibiotics, poor diet and more.
Probiotics are widely known for other abilities, such as prevention of diarrhea or reduce its severity. Diarrhea is a common side effect of taking antibiotics. It occurs because antibiotics can negatively affect the balance of good and bad bacteria in the gut [3].
Probiotics may help keep your heart health by lowering LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and blood pressure[4].
Probiotics can help give your immune system a boost and inhibit the growth of harmful gut bacteria[5]. Also, some probiotics have been shown to promote the production of natural antibodies in the body. They may also boost immune cells like the IgA-producing cells, T lymphocytes and natural killer cells[6].
The functionality and reliability of each strain can only be determined through thorough clinical research.
Your gut and probiotics
Live probiotic cultures are often found in fermented dairy products such as yogurts and milk drinks. Fermented foods like pickled vegetables, tempeh, miso, kefir, kimchi, sauerkraut and soy products may also contain some lactic acid bacteria.
However, you can also support your gut by taking probiotics in tablets, capsules and powders that contain the bacteria in dried form. There are different types of probiotic products available. The most important difference is how many different bacteria each product contains.
Different types of probiotics
Probiotic supplements can come in either single- or multi-strain varieties, containing either one concentrated strain or a blend of many. Each strain may have diverse functions, ranging from health benefits to fermenting yogurt. The functionality and reliability of each strain can only be determined through thorough clinical research.
Multi-species probiotics appear to show greater efficacy than mono-strain or multi-strain.
Probiotics can be divided in three categories:
- Mono-strain probiotics: containing one strain of a certain species, e.g. Lactobacillus acidophilus
- Multi-strain probiotics: containing more than one strain of the same species, e.g. Lactobacillus acidophilus A and Lactobacillus acidophilus B
- Multi-species probiotics: containing strains that belong to one or preferentially more genera, e.g. Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum and Lactococcus lactis
Multi-species probiotics refers to blending several strains to the point that the functionality of each separate mono-strain differs from the combined functionality of the blended strains. Based on several studies based on clinical research, multi-species probiotics appear to show greater efficacy than mono-strain or multi-strain, including strains that are components of the mixtures themselves[7].
Formulas including multi-species undergo series of extensive scientific testing and clinical research. Probiotic multi-species appear to be effective against a wide range of end points.
Multi-species probiotics are able to act on all three levels of the gastro-intestinal tract:
- Inhibit various pathogens such as C. difficile, E. coli, E. faecalis and B. subtilus
- Improve the barrier function
- Influence the immune system
Our products – Leven
At Leven our probiotic formulations are developed in close collaboration with leading international research institutes, universities and academic hospitals.
All Leven products are focused on restoring intestinal flora balance, helping to maintain a healthy and balanced gastrointestinal state. Our multi-species products are designed for specific indications to help restore and maintain health.
Our ProBioAct patent technology ensures that probiotics
remain vigorous at all times, and numerous clinical studies have confirmed the
good effect of Leven probiotics. Our
product has been available globally for more than 25 years, and its reliable
quality is favored by consumers in more than 25 countries. Our partners and
suppliers continuously invest in research and technologies in order to develop
the most effective probiotics, allowing us to support you with the best
solutions, meeting for your needs.
[1] Hill C et al., National Reviews Gastroenterol Hepatol, 2014, Aug;11(8):506-14
[2] King S et al., British Journal of Nutrition, 2014 Jul 14;112(1):41-54
[3] Dethlefsen L et al., PLoS Biology, 2008 Nov 18;6(11):e280
[4] Begley M, Hill C, Gahan CG, Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 2006 Mar;72(3):1729-38
[5] Resta-Lenert S, Barrett KE, Gut, 2003 Jul;52(7):988-97
[6] Reid G et al., Clinical Microbiologial Reviews, 2003 Oct;16(4):658-72.
[7] Chapman CE et al., European Journal of Nutrition, 2011 Feb;50(1):1-17
Leave a reply