How Important is it to have "Human Strain" Probiotics?

“Human Strain” Probiotics

The origin of a strain simply specifies from what source that particular strain - often part of a blend - was first isolated. Its origin is related to establishing intellectual property and a chain of custody, but not to any possible health benefits. There are all kinds of organisms, both desirable and undesirable, in our guts, but microbiologists do not consider the first identified/isolated source to be predictive of the health benefits that any particular strain (substrain) will provide to people.

So touting a “human source” or “soil organism” is actually a marketing game, not a valid scientific argument, and in fact is an anti-scientific message. Just because an organism was obtained from human feces (or rarely, saliva), perhaps because the person actually obtained it by eating fermented foods or even from contact with soil, doesn’t mean that it has probiotic properties…or even different properties than eating it in that yogurt or directly consuming those soil organisms. We all probably have some small quantity of E coli and Salmonella in our bowels; should they therefore be promoted as “human strain” probiotic bacteria? Obviously not…

In the scientific literature the benefits of a probiotic strain (or blend) depends solely on its technical qualities: proper identification of the specific strain (substrain), its stability in a consumer product, its bile and acid resistance, its ability to colonize and persist in the human GI tract, and any specific health effects it provides as measured in both test tube and human clinical trials when given to a human being. None of these qualities depend on its original sourcing. Specific label claims relating to substrains of probiotics depend totally on the body of clinical evidence of how that substrain provides benefits to people.

Look for the addition of a third name to the Latin binomial (2-word Latin name) of a strain to indicate a specific substrain, as in “Lactobacillus acidophilus La-14” or “Bifidobacterium lactis BL-04”.

If a company is touting the origin of their strain(s) rather than their proven clinical health benefits, then they may have no clinically validated strains and are just trying to promote theoretical rather than demonstrated benefits. Why would they promote strains based on irrelevant historical factors related to the strain's discovery rather than providing evidence of their product's demonstrated health benefits if they do have clinically relevant strains?

Smart consumers will look for evidence-based label claims, such as clinical trials utilizing their particular strain to assure that a probiotic product will have some credible evidence of being health promoting.

Women's Health Interview, October 2010

Women’s biggest health challenges tend to be related to three general areas: hormonal health (including PMS and menopause issues), pregnancy, and maintaining health as they age (bone health and avoiding chronic degenerative conditions).

Women do seem to suffer more from certain problems related to inflammatory challenges and hormonal changes. Because of their regular, or sometimes irregular hormonal cycles, there are both advantages and disadvantages compared with men; at least until menopause tends to even the field regarding heart disease, for example. Regular menstruation lowers iron stores, reducing health problems related to oxidative and microbial challenges from free radicals that can be elevated due to the actions of uncontrolled free iron. Because of this, premenopausal women tend to have lower levels of heart disease than either post-menopausal women or adult men.

Also, because of their greater reliance on three major forms of natural estrogen as a dominant hormone complex, women seem to have greater risks of getting hormonal abnormalities and elevated cancer rates related to breast, endometrial tissues, etc. There are numerous factors involved, but oxidation of estrogens into more dangerous forms has been suggested as a major contributor to those risks. The fact that certain volatile plastics containing free BPA and specific other chemicals are known to be strong estrogen mimics makes exposure to those substances very dangerous to women, in particular.

Men do share some of those risks; for example, some estrogenic agricultural chemicals widely used on lawns, golf courses, and farms (herbicides, pesticides) are suggested to elevate the risk of prostate abnormalities. But men’s consequences tend to be more subtle and drawn out than the very real risks that women face from both these exposures and lack of protective nutrients such as a range of antioxidants and detoxification aids such as silymarin, broccoli and cruciferous vegetable consumption, and various liver supporting herbs and nutrients. The regular use of NSAID anti-inflammatory drugs – often utilized for PMS and other aches and pains – is associated with side effects that similar-acting nutrients and herbs lack: negative effects include reducing availability of some important nutrients, upregulation of pain triggers, negative effects on mood, stomach and GI problems, and degenerative cascades. Bless their hearts; many women don’t have it easy.

Women who eat enough legumes, flax seeds, and other sources of plant estrogens (phytoestrogens) tend to have more manageable menstrual cycles. Certain signs, like menstrual-related migraine headaches, indicate a deficiency of adequate natural progesterone levels that can be helped either by supplying the herb Vitex (chaste berry) if premenopausal or by applying natural progesterone cream to the skin. Certain herbal formulas and isoflavones from foods are utilized to preserve healthy and more comfortable menstrual cycles.

One thing that women should do to prepare for menopause is to maintain their bone mass by exercise and getting adequate supplies of not only calcium but also vitamins C, D, and K, magnesium, boron, and other bone support nutrients. The value of an alkalinizing whole food diet is of primary importance. The presence in the diet of legumes and flax seeds eases the transition to menopause, which is a normal part of a women’s life cycle.

The existence of biofilms informs our understanding of areas where bacteria and microbes can gown in the body. The fact that certain organisms – helpful or harmful – can create a mass that is layered like chainmail to resist removal is a powerful visual image that aids in understanding why it takes so long to effect changes in our inner ecology. Ideally, we have friendly probiotic bacteria coating our GI and urinary tracts to crowd out undesirable organisms. In fact, it was recently discovered that the purpose of the appendix was to serve as a reservoir of such probiotics to help “reboot” the system in case of problems that kill off the good bacteria; of course, with antibiotics, high sugar diets, stress, and other factors lowering the vitality of our probiotics, some people will grow the nasty stuff in their appendixes, presenting a serious health risk. The ability of Candida albicans live yeast and other organisms to overgrow at undesirable levels at the expense of more beneficial probiotic microbes means that some of our layered biomass colonies are undesirable and difficult to remove quickly. D-Mannose and cranberry (blueberries, too) tend to help prevent the spread of these colonies by preventing undesirable particles from adhering to the urinary tract walls but don’t kill off existing colonies. Still, these natural substances are helpful in curtailing their spread while other strategies are implemented, such as low sugar intake or even pharmaceuticals.

To support breast health it is wise to avoid BPA plastics, don’t microwave food in plastic, don’t consume agricultural chemicals on food, eat a plant-based diet providing antioxidant-rich produce, and eat plenty of broccoli, cruciferous vegetables, and non-GMO legumes, especially soy.

Various experts warn us against eating soy, with the suggestion that plant estrogens are dangerous. I have investigated the scientific literature to determine the risk and found that the scientific consensus is that there is no risk for healthy women, and even no indication that soy foods are unsafe for women who have had breast cancer! That is amazing when you consider all of the negative theories being hyped on the Internet. Soy prevents oxidation and conversion of estrogen into its more dangerous forms, aids in liver metabolism of these hormones and various toxins, and has been “proven” to protect against heart disease (soy actually has an FDA-approved qualified health claim related to this benefit).

 

Detoxification

Detoxification By Neil E. Levin, CCN, DANLA The EPA tracks about 650 toxic chemicals used in 23,600 facilities in the US. The agency reports that about half of the 4.24 billion pounds of these toxic chemicals are annually released into the air, ground or water. These include chemicals from the mining, smelting and power generation industries, paper production, electronic equipment manufacturing, plastics, pesticides, etc. While the highest release of chemicals is associated with mining and power production, other industries release problematic chemicals into the environment on a daily basis, all over our country. Certain groups are most at risk (e.g., children, pregnant and nursing women, the elderly). I would also add that people with multiple chemical exposures or even a single toxic level of exposure can develop a hyper-sensitivity to chemicals that can be debilitating. This condition is often called multiple chemical sensitivity. Of course, there is an increase in exposures as our exposure to so many chemicals uses up key nutrients and can overload the body’s ability to detoxify these toxic “insults” to the liver and other body systems. As our need for key nutrients and optimal detoxification processes grows during repeated, chronic exposures, our bodies may fail to keep pace and the levels of toxins can accumulate in our body. The results can be subtle (acne, headaches, persistent “colds”) or extreme (hair or tooth loss, chronic fatigue, pain). We see inflammatory-related conditions increasing, such as liver problems, cardiovascular issues, joint degradation and brain degeneration. While it is true that these conditions are associated with aging, it is also true that aging relates to the body’s inability to properly remove toxins and distribute nutrients to all of its tissues. Inflammatory chemicals can be either the original chemical or a biochemical metabolite that is produced in the body as a temporary step in neutralizing and removing the chemical. If inadequate nutrient stores do not allow the detoxification to complete - and often heroic levels of nutrients far above the RDI’s are required in these situations – then the body still will have a burden of toxic, inflammatory chemicals to contend with. The old adage is to reduce the exposure and increase the nutrients in order to allow the body to clear these toxins in its usual manner. Everything that lowers exposure, even removing shoes when entering a house or using appropriate filters for air ducts, may be helpful in reducing airborne toxins. But it is also important to reduce exposures through varied sources such as medications, non-organic food and the environment as best we can. Antioxidants, including sulfur-containing substances, are the key to detoxification. Methylation, sulfation and antioxidant reduction are some detoxification techniques used by the liver, especially. The liver utilizes these methods to render toxins inert enough to allow removal through the bile or the urine. Methylation can be enhanced by methyl donor nutrients, such as choline, TMG, DMG and SAMe. Sulfation is done with MSM, sulfur from plants (garlic, onions, broccoli, kale) or sulfur-containing proteins (methionine, cysteine, glutathione). Antioxidants include Vitamin C, alpha lipoic acid, etc. Any sources of these nutrients would be beneficial to aiding the body’s natural detoxification systems. One problem is that people often fear to use adequate, high levels of these nutrients, such as taking Vitamin C up to bowel tolerance levels. Some natural substances that enhance/support detoxification include Zinc, Selenium, Copper, Manganese, Sodium Alginate, Chlorella, Bladderwrack, MSM, Beet Root, Red Clover, Dandelion Root, Oregon Grape Root, and Milk Thistle Extract. Another new product is a broccoli seed concentrate called “sgs™”, which is backed by numerous clinical studies at Johns Hopkins regarding its ability to enhance natural detoxification. Adequate fiber is also important in moving the waste quickly through the colon to help remove toxins while avoiding exposure to toxins from the waste or from inappropriate microbes that fester in an unhealthy colon. Probiotics are important, especially bifidobacteria (Bifidus). Drinking adequate amounts of clean, filtered water is another must. Eating organic whenever possible is important, avoiding non-organic fruits and vegetables prone to heavy chemical exposure. Detoxification is a normal bodily function, so claiming that a dietary supplement can support this function would be a legitimate “structure-function statement” authorized by federal law if the clinical documentation is available. Neil E. Levin, CCN, DANLA is a nationally certified clinical nutritionist with a Diplomate in Advanced Nutritional Laboratory Assessment. He is a professional member of the International & American Associations of Clinical Nutritionists. Neil is the nutrition education manager and a product formulator for NOW Foods, a natural food and dietary supplement manufacturer in Bloomingdale, Illinois. Neil is a member of the Scientific Council of the national Clinical Nutrition Certification Board and serves on the board of directors of the Mid-American Health Organization (MAHO), the Midwest regional affiliate of the National Products Association (formerly NNFA). Neil is routinely interviewed for articles in trade magazines serving the natural products industry and has published articles in magazines and newspapers, contributed to scientific journals and has been a guest on numerous radio shows. He has been interviewed for television news reports many times over a 33-year career. You can read some of Neil’s recent articles at his non-commercial website: http://www.honestnutrition.com/

Another Decade of AIDS (HIV)

In 1995 a protocol for nutritional support of people who were HIV positive was published by a nutrition group headed by Willis H. Reisen, PhD, who received his PhD in biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin in the 1950's and was board certified as a clinical nutritionist in the early 1990's. Dr. Reisen, and his colleague David B. Tardy, self-published their short pamphlet, A Decade of AIDS, after a ten-year period during which they claimed that not a single one of the approximately one hundred HIV-positive people following this protocol had gone from HIV-positive to full-blown AIDS. (Both of these good gentlemen have since passed away at a ripe age.)

I am providing the recommendations of their original protocol in a very short form largely for historical purposes, but also to open people's minds to the possibilities of using nutrition to complement conventional medical care. I'm also providing independent scientific references that I have dug up to document the current science backing up their original protocol, which I present below.

A bit of explanation of the supplemental options was also added by me, along with a few examples of modern formulas providing these nutrients more efficiently than those available on the market some 10-12 years ago.

Please remember that this protocol was designed to be used under a physician's care, and should NOT be used as a substitute for medical care!

HIV nutritional support protocol (to be used only under the medical supervision of a physician):

This protocol has traditionally (since 1985) been used by some clinical nutritionists for the nutritional support of people with HIV for nutritional restoration of the digestive and immune systems. Use this protocol only as directed by your physician.

Nutritional Protocol:

• Probiotics include acidophilus, bifidus, and other ‘beneficial bacteria’ that are healthy for the human gut. If you are not using an antibiotic prescription drug, simply take a good quality, strong probiotic formula as directed on the label. If you are currently taking an antibiotic prescription drug, supplement with a good quality, strong probiotic formula an hour or two after each dose of antibiotic, then continue taking the probiotics for some weeks after the antibiotic course is over.
• Take a good hi-potency multiple vitamin to provide basic nutritional supplementation.1, 2, 17-33, 45
• Take antioxidants to increase detoxification and glutathione production. Cysteine or NAC 3,4, whey protein isolate 34-36, GliSODin ™ 37, 39-44 Silymarin (milk thistle extract) VitaBerry™ or other hi-ORAC antioxidant formula Selenium, preferably selenomethionine, 200-400 mcg/day. 5-8, 39
• Do a Vitamin C flush, maintaining appropriate levels: http://www.askrph3.com/healthcare/article_cflush.shtml 9-11, 38
• Natural carotenoids 46-48 AIDS-related weight loss and chronic diarrhea ("HIV enteropathy") may respond to a gluten-free diet. 12
• Progressive resistance training (weight training) and exercise may be used as an alternative or adjunct to steroids. 13,14
• DHEA may alleviate fatigue and depression (200-500 mg per day for eight weeks). DHEA supplementation had no effect on CD4 cell (helper T-cell) counts or testosterone levels. 15,16

References
1. Ince S. Vitamin supplements may help delay onset of AIDS. Med Tribune 1993;9:18.
2. Fawzi WW, Msamanga G, Hunter D, et al. Randomized trial of vitamin supplements in relation to vertical transmission of HIV-1 in Tanzania. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2000;23:246–54.
3. Roederer M, Staal FJ, Raju PA, et al. Cytokine-stimulated human immunodeficiency virus replication is inhibited by N-acetyl-L-cysteine. Proc Natl Acad Sci 1990;87:4884–8.
4. Herzenberg LA, De Rosa SC, Dubs JG, et al. Glutathione deficiency is associated with impaired survival in HIV disease. Proc Natl Acad Sci 1997;94:1967–72.
5. Baum MK, Shor-Posner G, Lai S, et al. High risk of HIV-related mortality is associated with selenium deficiency. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr Hum Retrovirol 1997;15:370–4.
6. Olmsted L, Schrauzer GN, Flores-Arce M, Dowd J. Selenium supplementation of symptomatic human immunodeficiency virus infected patients. Biol Trace Elem Res 1989;25:89–96.
7. Chariot P, Perchet H, Monnet I. Dilated cardiomyopathy in HIV-infected patients [letter; comment]. N Engl J Med 1999;340:732 (discussion 733–5).
8. Zazzo JF, Lafont A, Darwiche E, et al. Is non-obstructive myocardiopathy (NOMC) in AIDS selenium-deficiency related? In: Neve J, Favier A, eds. Selenium in biology and medicine. W. DeGruyter & Co.: Berlin New York, 1988, 281–2.
9. Harakeh S, Jariwalla RJ, Pauling L. Suppression of human immunodeficiency virus replication by ascorbate in chronically and acutely infected cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci 1990;87:7245–9.
10. Tang AM, Graham NMH, Saah AJ. Effects of micronutrient intake on survival in human immunodeficiency type 1 infection. Am J Epidemiol 1996;143:1244–56.
11. Cathcart RF III. Vitamin C in the treatment of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Med Hypotheses 1984;14:423–33.
12. Nellen H, Flores G, Wacher N. Treatment of human immunodeficiency virus enteropathy with a gluten-free diet. Arch Intern Med 2000;160:244 [letter].
13. Roubenoff R, McDermott A, Weiss L, et al. Short-term progressive resistance training increases strength and lean body mass in adults infected with human immunodeficiency virus. AIDS 1999;13:231–9.
14. Mustafa T, Sy FS, Macera CA, et al. Association between exercise and HIV disease progression in a cohort of homosexual men. Ann Epidemiol 1999;9:127–31.
15. Ferrando SJ, Rabkin JG, Poretsky L. Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) and testosterone: relation to HIV illness stage and progression over one year. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 1999;22:146–54.
16. Rabkin JG, Ferrando SJ, Wagner GJ, Rabkin R. DHEA treatment for HIV + patients: effects on mood, androgenic and anabolic parameters. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2000;25:53–68.
17. Semba RD, Graham NMH, Caiaffa WT, et al. Increased mortality associated with vitamin A deficiency during human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection. Arch Intern Med 1993;153:2149–54.
18. Semba RD, Miotti PG, Chiphangwi JD, et al. Maternal vitamin A deficiency and mother-to-child transmission of HIV-1. Lancet 1994;343:1593–7.
19. Coutsoudis A, Pillay K, Spooner E, et al. Randomized trial testing the effect of vitamin A supplementation on pregnancy outcomes and early mother-to-child HIV-1 transmission in Durban, South Africa. South African Vitamin A Study Group. AIDS 1999;13:1517–24.
20. Kennedy CM, Coutsoudis A, Kuhn L, et al. Randomized controlled trial assessing the effect of vitamin A supplementation on maternal morbidity during pregnancy and postpartum among HIV-infected women. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2000;24:37–44.
21. Fawzi WW, et al. (2004). A randomized trial of multivitamin supplements and HIV disease progression and mortality. N Engl J Med 351, 23–32
22. Coutsoudis A, Bobat RA, Coovadia HM, et al. The effects of vitamin A supplementation on the morbidity of children born to HIV-infected women. Am J Public Health 1995;85:1076–81.
23. Kanter AS, Spencer DC, Steinberg MH, et al. Supplemental vitamin B and progression to AIDS and death in black South African patients infected with HIV. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 1999;21:252–3 [letter].
24. Butterworth RF, Gaudreau C, Vincelette J, et al. Thiamine deficiency in AIDS. Lancet 1991;338:1086.
25. Baum MK, Mantero-Atienza E, Shor-Posner G, et al. Association of vitamin B6 status with parameters of immune function in early HIV-1 infection. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 1991;4:1122–32.
26. Tang AM, Graham NMH, Saah AJ. Effects of micronutrient intake on survival in human immunodeficiency type 1 infection. Am J Epidemiol 1996;143:1244–56.
27. Boudes P, Zittoun J, Sobel A. Folate, vitamin B12, and HIV infection. Lancet 1990;335:1401–2.
28. Murray MF. Niacin as a potential AIDS preventive factor. Med Hypotheses 1999;53:375–9.
29. Murray MF, Srinivasan A. Nicotinamide inhibits HIV-1 in both acute and chronic in vitro infection. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 1995;210:954–9.
30. Tang AM, Graham NMH, Saah AJ. Effects of micronutrient intake on survival in human immunodeficiency type 1 infection. Am J Epidemiol 1996;143:1244–56.
31. Graham NMH, Saah AJ. Effects of micronutrient intake on survival in human immunodeficiency type 1 infection. Am J Epidemiol 1996;143:1244–56.
32. Fabris N, Mocchegiani E, Galli M, et al. AIDS, zinc deficiency, and thymic hormone failure. JAMA 1988;259:839–40.
33. Mocchegiani E, Veccia S, Ancarani F, et al. Benefit of oral zinc supplementation as an adjunct to zidovudine (AZT) therapy against opportunistic infections in AIDS. Int J Immunopharmacol 1995;17:719–27.
34. Micke P, Beeh KM, Buhl R. Effects of long-term supplementation with whey proteins on plasma glutathione levels of HIV-infected patients. Eur J Nutr 2002;41:12–8.
35. Wong KF, Middleton N, Montgomery M, et al. Immunostimulation of murine spleen cells by materials associated with bovine milk protein fractions. J Dairy Sci 1998;81:1825–32.
36. Minehira K, Inoue S, Nonaka M, et al. Effects of dietary protein type on oxidized cholesterol-induced alteration in age-related modulation of lipid metabolism and indices of immune function in rats. Biochim Biophys Acta 2000;1483:141–53.
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41. Dugas B (2002) Glisodin®, a nutraceutical product that promotes the oral delivery of superoxide dismutase. Free Radic Biol Med 33: S64
42. Vouldoukis I, Conti M, Kolb JP, et al.(2003) Induction of Th1-dependent immunity by an orally effective melon superoxide dismutase extract. Curr Trends Immunol 5: 141-5
43. Vouldoukis I, Conti M, Krauss P, et al. (2004) Supplementation with gliadin-combined plant superoxide dismutase extract promotes antioxidant defences and protects against oxidative stress. Phytother Res 18 (12): 957-62
44. Vouldoukis I, Lacan D, Kamate C, et al. (2004) Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of a Cucumis melo LC. extract rich in superoxide dismutase activity. J Ethnopharmacol 94 (1): 67-75
45. Jiamton S, et al. (2003). A randomized trial of the impact of multiple micronutrient supplementation on mortality among HIV-infected individuals living in Bangkok. AIDS 17, 2461–2469
46. Austin J. A community randomized controlled clinical trial of mixed carotenoids and micronutrient supplementation of patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Eur J Clin Nutr 60: 1266-1276; advance online publication, May 24, 2006; doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602447
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