How Do Probiotics Boost Our Natural Defences? by Jalal Janmohamed

It is increasingly apparent that what we eat influences our health and well-being, particularly when we are talking about digestion and energy levels. But are we aware that nutrition and our digestive tract also play an important role in our body’s natural defences? The gut is the primary point of contact between bacteria and our body’s internal organs. Similar to the skin, the gut contains a complex ecosystem of “good” bacteria which break down indigestible food into available nutrients and protect us from pathogens. However, the equilibrium of this ecosystem is fragile, and any element capable of disrupting it or strengthening it can thus influence our health and well-being.

Helping the immune defences on every level

Let’s start with a little vocabulary. Probiotics, often described as “good bacteria”, stands for “for life”. They have been defined by the FAO/WHO as: “live-microorganisms which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host”.

Probiotics currently on the market are in fact pure cultures of one or more strains of bacteria which naturally occur in our intestine. Those strains have been selected for their beneficial effects on the human digestive system. Some probiotics (e.g. Lactobacillus Rosell-11, Lactobacillus Rosell-52) have been developed specifically for their ability to influence the immune system based on clinical and scientific evidences.

Research has shown that probiotics help our natural defences at every level of defence:

1. By enhancing the natural gut microflora, probiotics inhibit infection by two means. First, probiotics prevent the adhesion of pathogens by occupying binding sites on epithelial cells, providing what is known as a barrier effect. Probiotics also prevent the growth of pathogens by producing antimicrobial substance such as lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide and by competing for available nutrients, a process known as competitive exclusion.

2. Additionally, probiotics improve the intestinal barrier function by enhancing epithelial integrity and stimulating increased mucus production in what can be described as a second barrier effect.

3. Probiotics boost the body’s non-specific innate immune response by stimulating increased production of “fighter” cells such as macrophages and neutrophils as well as increasing the intensity of this attack. The non-specific innate immune response can rapidly destroys pathogens that have passed through the epithelium or outgrown the good bacteria in the gut.

4. Probiotics also boost the acquired immune response by stimulating increased production of immunological memory cells known as lymphocytes and production of antibodies specific for these pathogens. The adaptive immune response, which takes time to develop, is a strong response specific against each pathogen. It possesses a “memory” which allows a more immediate response the next time the body encounters the same pathogen (the vaccine principle).

By ensuring a well-balanced microflora, probiotics can help prevent infections, especially when our natural flora is disrupted by stress, antibiotic therapy, dietary changes and travel. Moreover, specially formulated probiotics can play an active role in modulating specific immunological responses.

A specially formulated probiotic to boost immunity that I have found invaluable is Immunox Probiotic & Antioxidant from DTECTA Probiotics. Immunox is an advanced multi-strain probiotic and antioxidant blend developed to support the body’s resistance to infection and promote a healthy immune system.

In addition to 4 strains of probiotics, a unique synergy exists between the advanced antioxidants and probiotic blend in Immunox. A healthy probiotic balance enhances nutrient and mineral absorption in the intestines, thereby ensuring that the antioxidants are more efficiently absorbed into the bloodstream and can make their way to the cells and organs where they are needed most. This results in a two pronged approach to boost immunity – the probiotic action & the antioxidant action – to give undeniable success.

Copyright 2008 Jalal Janmohamed