More good news about probiotics, the “good” bacteria you’ve often read about. Thanks to the work of doctors at University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Public Health, there is now evidence that probiotics can help prevent sepsis in babies.
New born babies are exposed to all manner of things they’re bodies haven’t had to deal with before, which makes it extreamly easy for them to get infections. These infections could turn into a life-threatening condition, the most common of which is the extreme infection response known as sepsis. Sepsis is the primary cause of death from infection globally. It’s known to affect 6 million newborns and children every year, accounting for about 60-80 percent of lives lost annually, including the deaths of about 600,000 babies.
Probiotics are also known to be effective in preventing an infection of the intestines of newborns called necrotizing enterocolitis. In the study done by NMC, the risk of death from sepsis dropped by 40 percent, from 9 percent to 5.4 percent in the 4,000 babies fed with the probiotic microbes. The administration of probiotics was also shown to prevent lung infections, which dropped by about 30 percent. The special mixture used in this study, included a probiotic called Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC-202195 combined with fructo-oligosaccharide (FOS), an oral synbiotic preparation developed by Dr. Panigrahi. Synbiotics are combinations of probiotics with an FOS supplement that promotes growth and sustains colonization of the probiotic strain. FOS, naturally found in breast milk and such plants as onion, chicory, garlic, asparagus, banana, artichoke and others, is food for the probiotic bacteria.
This is obviously great news, and especially so because the low cost of probiotics will make it easy to get treatment to babies all over the world. But no matter if you are a baby or an adult, healthy or sick, probiotics are a must have component in your immune system. Natural sources include Greek yoghurt, kefir, sauerkraut, Tempeh, and more. Try adding a couple of these to your daily meals/snacks to stay healthy. Avoid sugary yogurts because it will deplete the amount of probiotics. I love eating 2 cups of plain Kefer with local organic raw honey drizzled on top. The honey does not affect the population of the Kefer or yogurt but enhances those good microbes.
The human microbiota is the aggregate of microorganisms that resides on the surface and in deep layers of skin, in the saliva and oral mucosa, in the conjunctiva, and in the gastrointestinal tracts and the human microbiome refer to their genomes. The microbiome is reckoned to have around 3 million functional genes compared to human beings 23,000 and the far larger genome of the microbiome has correspondingly greater capabilities in modulating human health and well being. Microbiome’s health and diversity is a growing theme in medical research for treating autoimmune, infectious, and metabolic diseases.
We at AgeVital Pharmacy realize the enormous importance of human commensal microbiota. Our research and product development efforts are targeted towards harnessing the potential of microbiome for future personalized medicine and preventative care. Our newest line of Probiotics brings you the very best of the “good” bacteria, so you can get your microbiom on track and start feeling your very best!