Scientists, bless them, are always trying to get to the "why" and "how" of questions about the workings of our bodies and worlds. We have known for centuries that certain foods can help with health conditions, and have known for quite a few years now that probiotics in these foods may be the reason that they promote good health. Science has now discovered the mechanism of action behind these substances in whole food supplements.
An international research team at the Institute of Biotechnology, and the Department of Basic Veterinary Sciences at the University of Helsinki have sequenced the genomes of LGG, or Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG. The research team found that the particular good bacteria binds with the intestinal mucus, with a specific adhesion component. It is actually this binding feature, unremarkable as it sounds, that seems to be the mainstay of LGG's health benefits. The protein structure that enables it to bind to the intestinal mucus produces a positive immune system modulation.
The particular probiotics in question is a licensed trademark of Valio, however, most studies on probiotic's health benefits do not use a brand name of probiotic. This is a convenient way to get funding -- but definitely doesn't mean that any other probiotic whole food supplement is less effective.
As recently as the middle of last year, you could find a raft of scientific articles about the benefits of probiotics in humans, but nearly every one of them began with "Scientists don’t know exactly how probiotics work, but they have discovered another of their amazing health benefits!" These amazing benefits of probiotics as whole food supplements has included:
- Decrease in serum CRP levels, which indicate an inflammatory response
- A potential therapy for ulcerative colitis
- Assisting with weight loss
- Reduce the side effects of antibiotics
- Treat bacterial vaginosis
- Preventing allergies in caesarian delivered babies
- Preventing diarrhea and other conditions caused by gut pathogens.
The different probiotics in different whole food supplements all have different effects -- you can expect to see many more studies of this type in the future!
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