Probiotics on Body Weight

While this information will be new for most readers, this concept has been in use with farm animals for some time. When certain bacteria strains dominate or other strains are absent, animals gain weight faster. Knowing this aspect, Scientists decided to measure and see if the bacteria mix in obese versus slender people was different too. Yes, it was. ref 

In studies on mice, Scientists isolated out the thin or obese type bacteria from humans, and then added them into mice with no intestinal bacteria. The mice which had the obese bacteria types gained more weight.  

The theory goes like this: Some bacteria types are better at digesting the indigestible fibers in whole foods better than other bacteria types. Thus, more energy as calories would become available to the body to turn into fat and increase weight. ref 

CAUTION:  ref Which came first, the bacteria different strains, or did the diet (or antibiotics) modify intestinal chemistry and this change allowed different bacteria types to dominate?  Plus, there is also the possibility that other functions of bacteria are involved, like inflammation reduction, or other immune activities. The ratio described here is vital too and may really be the deciding factor. ref

More studies are building the case. Here is one. This next one shows it works mostly in animals, with just a small effect on humans from bypass surgery. This will be a long process to determine since so many factors probably influence, like diet, genetics, exposure to bacteria, etc.  But generally, as the body ages, it is bifidobacteria that is reduced while lactobacillus bacteria counts remain fairly constant. These two types are bacteria represent most of the probiotic supplements available, but there are many other bacteria types that influence human intestinal health as well. ref

The major takeaway point here is not mainly about bacteria and weight gain or loss, but that some probiotic bacteria have scientific research, usually the ones with strains codes listed after name, while others do not. One should use probiotics wisely. And that takes knowing the research about functions and dosages.

Limit intake to 20 billion and under. And then not for long periods without breaks. The idea is to use more PREBIOTICS to feed and establish your own indigenous bacteria strains. ref Some supplement strains can go to war with your native strains, but they generally are used to increase lactic acid and build up a favorable intestinal chemistry. It is this change that then allows for your native cultures to again gain dominance.. 

One bacteria study showed a 20% cold reduction for one billion and only a 10% reduction at 10 billion. Supplemented bacteria are just visitors and do not take up permanent residence. The clinically studied strains have identified functions they excel at minimizing any destructive actions. 

One way that shows this effect is when antibiotics are given long term. Certain bacteria tend to survive antibiotics longer and thus gain acceptance as a weight gaining bacteria type, such as lactobacillus reuteri. 

Lactobacillus gasseri tends to have the opposite effect. 

Women, Probiotics, & Estrogens

Any discussion on Women and cancer usually includes the role that Hormones, Estrogen and Progesterone, play in tumor initiation and growth. An excess of estrogens can over stimulate mammary tissues and turn cells pre-cancerous. 

Recently, a new arena of influence was discovered, the Gut-Hormone relationship where intestinal bacteria groups influence estrogen levels and vice versa. Certain intestinal microbes produce an enzyme, beta-glucuronidase, that is capable of metabolizing estrogen. The group of microbes capable of acting on estrogens are called the Estrobolome. ref   After estrogens work in the body, they are marked for colon elimination by the liver with a process that conjugates the estrogen to deactivate it. Once in the colon, this estrogen form can be acted upon by the estrobolome microbes and is de-conjugated which returns it to an active state that can get recycled back into the body.

This process increases the level of active estrogens in circulation. This can have an adverse effect on a number of conditons related to estrogen connected diseases. Normally, under healthy intestinal conditions, the estrobolome microbes are limited in numbers and do not prove to be a problem. But, when intestinal health is upset, known as gut dysbiosis, either from poor diet or other stressors, the estrobolome microbes also are upset and more estrogen may be recyled than the body can handle. Chronic diseases often result. Controlling beta-glucuronidase activity is paramount. 

This new area of estrobolome research is very new. There is a little more science on the general microbiota of microbes in the intestinal tract. Some microbes get into the body too. Thus, one starts with the known and builds from there with new research. There are a number of articles on this website that deal with the know.

A priority should be to maintain a healthy gut bacteria presence. The pH or acid/alakline balance is important. see these Probiotics articles. article  article

Colon, Probiotics, Fibers

Colon health is vital to a healthy body. article article The Colon plays not only critical roles in elimination of waste, finishing digestion of food, water balance, nutrient recycling back into the body, this includes cholesterol too,  it also houses and grows the beneficial bacteria while suppressing harmful toxins and destructive bacteria. Immunity is a major player of proper gut bacteria. Plus, not as well known, the colon is where many hormones and neurotransmitters are regulated and produced. article A Gut Brain connection exists of immeasurable significance. article These all involve important concepts for health and a delicate balance between these factors maintains a healthy 6 foot long living colon pipeline. There are many actors that have a relationship between function factors involving overall diet (like processed meat), fiber types, both soluble and insoluble, supplements (like folic acid, calcium), lifestyles, body movement, transit time, heredity and genetics.

A large part of the colon consists of muscles. article These muscles need to be exercised, not only by body movement, but also from the inside by significant quantify of fiber types and fluids. This is where vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes play vital dietary roles since they have most of the fibers and some of these foods exhibit significant fluid as well, but drinking enough water is necessary. Exercise not only stimulates movement of food through colon but also it improves gut bacteria types. 

Since colon cancers, third is mortality of cancer types, are a significant occurrence in developed Countries, the importance of this information cannot be overstated. ref < new study

OVERALL DIET

Concerning overall diet, this recent reference is one of utmost clarification. Fibers and Fats appear to play opposite roles in colon cancer development as revealed from recent research. Since different types of fats play critical roles for the body, their influence on colon health is also a major consideration. ref Fibers feed the gut bacteria to increase butyrates (article) which reduce cancerous cell formation while Fats stimulate bile acids which can become promoters of colon cancer. ref Obviously, there could be secondary factors as well as nutrient concentrations at work to determine which direction and the degree of influence for each of these processes. ref Since each of these two factors have counter effects of the other, the levels of each one may be the determining overall direction factor. 

Are Herbals containing Saponins harmful or benefitical for health. article This next reference talks about saponins suppressing colon cancer. ref  This needs more research.

This article is still under development.