probiotics support and protect liver function

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What are Probiotics?

 

In 1908, Metchnikoff was awarded the Nobel Prize for discovering the important

role tiny organisms, now known as probiotics (meaning “for life”), play in

immune response.

 

Probiotics are dietary supplements of live bacteria or yeasts intended to assist

the body's naturally occurring gut flora which are critical to normal intestinal

absorptive and immunological functions. Strains of the genera Lactobacillus and

Bifidobacterium, are the most widely used probiotic bacteria.

 

They are sometimes recommended by doctors, and, more frequently, by

nutritionists, after a course of antibiotics, to help re-establish the healthy

bacteria and yeasts in our intestines. (Antibiotics typically cause a decrease

in number of the body's naturally occurring gut flora, an event which allows

harmful microbes to thrive, to the detriment of our health.) Claims are made

that probiotics strengthen the immune system to combat allergies, excessive

alcohol intake, stress, exposure to toxic substances, and other diseases.

 

Are probiotics beneficial to those with Hepatitis?

 

The studies listed below note beneficial effects for the liver and can be found

by their PMID # at the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National

Institutes of Health website: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?db=PubMed

 

This study tested the potential effect of the probiotic VSL#3 (a multistrain

preparation composed of Streptococcus thermophilus and several species of

Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria) on oxidative and inflammatory damage induced

by a high-fat diet in the liver of young rats. Data suggest that VSL#3

administration could limit oxidative and inflammatory liver damage in patients

with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

2009

PMID: 19321579

 

Patients with alcohol-induced liver injury have altered bowel flora compared to

healthy controls. Short-term oral supplementation with Bifidobacterium bifidum

and Lactobacillus plantarum was associated with restoration of the bowel flora

and greater improvement in alcohol-induced liver injury than standard therapy

alone.

2008

PMID: 19038698

 

The authors conducted the study on efficiency of probiothic Subalin medication

for treatment children with chronic virus hepatitis. The use of improved

curative complex including Subalin medication enables the regression of clinical

signs of the disease, allows decreasing the signs of intoxication which

alleviates the state of the children. Treatment with Subalin normalizes

biochemical parameters of blood serum of the children: increase in content of

whole protein, decreasing -thymol test index.

2007

PMID: 18271188

 

Liver cirrhosis is a frequent phenomenon in chronic liver diseases such as

hepatitis B, hepatitis C, alcohol-related liver damage, autoimmune hepatitis and

hemochromatosis. Ascites is the most frequent complication of cirrhosis.

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis occurs in up to 10% of patients with ascites

because of bacterial overgrowth with translocation through the increased

permeable small intestinal wall and impaired defence mechanisms. Probiotics

(bacterial food supplements) have been claimed to improve the state of

underlying liver disease and may be useful in the primary and secondary

prevention of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.

2006

PMID: 16782626

 

The authors postulate that each one of the powerful antioxidative components in

baker's yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae effectively participated in attenuation

of the oxidative stress caused by flutamide metabolites, and in promoting

regeneration of new hepatocytes and meanwhile could restore liver function

beyond normal status.

2005

PMID: 16222870

 

Routine liver damage tests and plasma S-NO levels were improved at the end of

treatment with the probiotic VSL#3 in all groups of various types of chronic

liver disease.

2005

PMID: 15942443

 

Conclusion:

 

The above mentioned studies suggest that probiotics may be beneficial in

protecting and supporting the liver. In additon, according to Wikipedia,

probiotics “ may protect against pathogens by means of competitive inhibition

(i.e., by competing for growth) and there is evidence to suggest that they may

improve immune function by increasing the number of IgA-producing plasma cells,

increasing or improving phagocytosis as well as increasing the proportion of T

lymphocytes and Natural Killer cells.” Therefore, probiotics may be beneficial

to those with Hepatitis (though it is certainly not a cure and should not be

used as a sole treatment!)

 

Note: All effects can only be attributed to the individual strain(s) tested. The

oral use of probiotics is considered safe and even recommended by World Health

Organization under specific guidelines.

 

Food Sources:

 

Yogurt, kefir, miso, buttermilk, wheat grass, spirulina, chlorella, and tempeh

(a soy product meant to replace meat).