How to Choose the Best Probiotic Supplement - FAQ

WHAT IS PROBIOTIC?

When ingested in appropriate amounts, probiotics are microorganisms that have a favorable influence on human health through improving the indigenous microbiota.

It is estimated that the number of bacteria inhabiting the human body (most of them reside in the gastrointestinal tract) is about ten times the number of our own cells. Complex interactions between these bacteria and our digestive system present well-documented health benefits. In particular, these microorganisms protect the human body from the invasion of pathogenic microorganisms, either by directly competing with them or by modulating the immune response.

The beneficial effects of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus bacteria have been reported at least since the late 1980s and confirmed by multiple clinical trials. Whereas species from several bacterial genera and at least one yeast species have been used as probiotics, Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus remain the best-studied and most widely used ones. Seven out of the eight species of viable beneficial bacteria included in MegaEl-Dena belong to these genera: four species of Bifidobacterium (B. bifidum, B. breve, B. lactis, and B. longum), and three species of Lactobacillus (L. acidophilus, L. casei, and L. rhamnosus).

WHAT IS PREBIOTIC?

Prebiotics are substances that cannot be digested by humans but stimulate the growth of beneficial bacteria. Since beneficial bacteria are already present in the intestines (even if their number is reduced), taking prebiotics stimulates the growth of these beneficial bacteria and helps normalize the microbiota. The most widely known prebiotics are nondigestible oligosaccharides, in particular fructooligosaccharides (FOS), which are included in the MegaEl-Dena formulation.

WHAT IS SYNBIOTIC?

Supplements that contain both probiotics and prebiotics, are called synbiotics and are assumed to have synergistic effects on the growth of beneficial bacteria. Synbiotics are expected to be more efficient than probiotics or prebiotics taken separately. In addition, some species of probiotic bacteria, such as Streptococcus thermophilus (present in MegaEl-Dena) supply other bacteria with nutrients that stimulate their growth, similar to the effects of prebiotics.

The two approaches of regulating indigenous microbiota through the intake of probiotics or prebiotics are not mutually exclusive; moreover, they can be used as complementary, leading to the concept of synbiotics. MegaEl-Dena is a synbiotic, as it combines viable beneficial bacteria and FOS.

WHAT FOOD CAN COMPENSATE THE LACK OF PROBIOTICS IN MY BODY?  

Probiotics are almost exclusively consumed as fermented dairy products such as yogurt, soft cheeses (like Gouda) or freeze-dried cultures.

WHAT ARE THE NATURAL SOURCES OF PROBIOTICS? 

The most widely known prebiotics are nondigestible oligosaccharides, in particular fructooligosaccharides (FOS), also called oligofructose (which is included in the MegaEl-Dena formulation), as well as galactooligosaccharides and lactulose. Prebiotics are found naturally in many foods, and can also be isolated from plants. Natural sources of prebiotics include: bananas, whole grains, garlic, onions, honey, leeks, artichokes, fortified foods and beverages.

CAN CHILDREN TAKE PROBIOTICS? 

Yes, children can take MegaEl-Dena. For appropriate information about ages and dosages (for US) please see the Leaflet section. Capsules should be taken immediately after a meal with a small amount of liquid. The contents of the capsules can be dissolved in a liquid (such as water or juice) before use.

Various commensal microorganisms are present even in the gastrointestinal tract of newborn babies.  This colonization is largely complete at one week of life; the first exposure to commensal microorganisms occurs during the infant's passage through the birth canal and continues as the baby is breastfed, because breast milk also contains commensal microorganisms.

Colonization of the newborn’s gastrointestinal tract by “incorrect” sets of microorganisms (known as dysbiosis) is associated with several immunological disorders, including atopic allergy (defined as allergic reactions in people with genetic predisposition to hypersensitivity to certain allergens); the gut microbiota differs in healthy and allergic babies. Dysbiosis occurs not only in infants but also in pregnant women and is a risk factor for the development of atopic allergies, probably because the composition of the vaginal microflora and that of breast milk affects the composition of the baby’s microbiota.  

SHOULD I TAKE PROBIOTICS OR PREBIOTICS WHILE TAKING ANTIBIOTICS AND WHY? 

A number of clinical studies have shown beneficial effects of probiotics and/or prebiotics in patients undergoing antibiotic therapy. Here is why:

1. Disruption in the intestinal microflora caused by the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics may promote excessive colonization of intestinal mucosa by fungi, in particular Candida species. This colonization is a risk factor for invasive candidiasis, which is a systemic life-threatening infection. Since probiotics help to restore endogenous microflora, they can be expected to help prevent Candida infections.
2. Sometimes antibiotic-induced dysbiosis (a collective name for disturbances in the composition of the intestinal microbiota that lead to an imbalance between beneficial and harmful bacteria) leads to the prevalence of harmful bacteria, such as Clostridium difficile. Taking probiotics and/or prebiotics may have beneficial effects in patients with these disturbances. For example, taking L. rhamnosus or a combination of B. lactis and S.thermophilus (all three bacterial species are components of MegaEl-Dena) during antibiotic therapy has been found to reduce the risk of antibiotic-associated diarrhea.
3. Taking prebiotics (FOS) is associated with fewer relapses in patients with C. difficile infection, whereas synbiotics have been found to help reduce the presence of C. difficile in the gastrointestinal tract. Overall, several components of MegaEl-Dena (both probiotics and prebiotics) have been found to be associated with beneficial effects in patients with acute diarrhea caused by antibiotic therapy, whereas no adverse effects of probiotics have been observed.

WHAT IS DYSBIOSIS? 

Dysbiosis (dysbacteriosis) is a collective name for disturbances in the composition of the intestinal microbiota that lead to an imbalance between beneficial and harmful bacteria. Potential causes of dysbiosis include the use (and overuse) of antibiotics and vaccinations, general antimicrobial strategies, exposure of newborns to “incorrect” sets of microorganisms in hospitals, psychological stress, and diet components; in particular, the microbiota composition is affected by the content of sulfates, sugars, proteins, and the ratio between dietary intake of proteins and fibers/indigestible starch. Smoking also increases the risk of dysbiosis.

Chronic dysbiosis is associated with a number of pathological conditions, such as gastrointestinal disturbances, Helicobacter pylori infection, inflammatory bowel disease, ankylosing spondylitis, colorectal cancer, chronic fatigue syndrome, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and obesity. Genetic predisposition may also play a role in the development of dysbiosis. In many cases, dysbiosis is asymptomatic, or its consequences may be difficult to detect without special studies.

HOW CAN PROBIOTICS ENHANCE MY IMMUNE SYSTEM?

Disturbances in the composition of the intestinal microbiota (a collective name for bacteria that inhabit the gastrointestinal tract) lead to an imbalance between beneficial and harmful bacteria and are associated with several immunological disorders.

Taking supplements that contain probiotics (beneficial bacteria) may help correct alterations in the composition of intestinal microbiota.

Communication between intestinal microbiota and the human body is mediated by multiple regulatory mechanisms.

1. Bacteria may directly interact with intestinal epithelial or immune cells and can also produce bioactive compounds that act as immune modulators.
2. Notably, approximately 70% of immune system cells are located in the gastrointestinal tract.
3. Probiotics are known to have beneficial effects on immunity, both at the molecular and cellular levels. For example, two studies, one conducted in Canada and the other in New Zealand, found that probiotics increase the production of interferon-α (which plays a role in protection against viral infections) in healthy elderly people but reduce the production of a proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in the gastrointestinal tract.
4. The ability of microbiota to regulate human immunity is illustrated by a study that involved healthy volunteers and found that intake of several species of bacteria that normally live in the intestines and are considered beneficial resulted in changes in the expression of genes involved in the control of immunity.
5. Some probiotics increase the serum level of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. Thus, probiotics would be expected to boost the innate immune response against viral infections and at the same time have an anti-inflammatory effect.
6. A number of studies have also documented the ability of probiotics to stimulate the production of immunoglobulin A (IgA), which plays a critical role in mucosal immunity.
7. Probiotics were also reported to enhance the bactericidal activity of leukocytes and to affect the Th1/Th2 balance. Th1 cells produce proinflammatory cytokines (including TNF-α mentioned above) involved in responses to bacterial and protozoan pathogens, and are also involved in inflammatory autoimmune disorders, whereas Th2 cells stimulate production of antibodies against parasites such as worms, and are also involved in allergies. Different probiotics have been shown to selectively shift the balance towards Th1 or Th2 responses, and may sometimes stimulate both.

CAN I TAKE MEGAEL-DENA IF I HAVE GASTIC AND DUODENAL ULCERS ASSOCIATED WITH HELICOBACTER PYLORI INFECTION? 

There are no contraindications for taking MegaEl-Dena if you have gastric and duodenal ulcers.

Major risk factor for such diseases as gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, and some cancers is H. pylori infection. Antibiotic therapy is used to eradicate this infection. Although antibiotics are intended to kill pathogenic bacteria, they also kill beneficial bacteria and cause changes in the species composition of microorganisms that inhabit the gastrointestinal tract.

The evidence available from a number of clinical studies suggests that intake of probioticsƒ has positive effect on H. pylori eradication and significantly reduces the risk of side effects of antibiotic therapy.

IS IT SAFE TO TAKE PRODUCTS CONTAINING MICROORGANISMS?

Soon after birth, different microorganisms colonize the sterile gastrointestinal tract of a newborn baby; colonization is complete after about one week, but the numbers and species of intestinal bacteria continue to change in the first several months of life. Many microorganisms that inhabit our intestines (called collectively commensal microbiota) can be considered as our symbionts and beneficial for the human body; their important function is to protect our bodies from invasion by pathogenic microorganisms, either by direct competition or via immunomodulation. The latter mechanism may be particularly important because approximately 70% of immune system cells are located in the gastrointestinal tract. There are multiple regulatory mechanisms that mediate the communication between the commensal microbiota and host.

However, early colonization of the gastrointestinal tract by microbes may be disturbed, among other factors, by antibiotics, sterile food, overuse of antimicrobials, or exposure of newborns to “incorrect” sets of microorganisms in hospitals. This may result in an imbalance between beneficial and harmful bacteria (called dysbiosis or dysbacteriosis).

CAN I TAKE MEGAEL-DENA IF I HAVE LACTOSE INTOLERANCE? 

MegaEl-Dena contains eight species of microorganisms from non-dairy sources.  It contains no lactose, so it is allowed for people on a dairy-free diet.

CAN I TAKE MEGAEL IF I AM VEGAN? 

Megael-Dena contains novel non-dairy probiotic microorganisms. But it comes in gelatine capsules. Gelatin capsules are made through a process that involves boiling down certain parts of animals. If vegan, remove the capsule shell before taking Megael-Dena. 

HOW LONG CAN I TAKE PROBIOTICS?

As probiotics assure healthy gut microbiota, there are no limits in duration of taking probiotics. Living lactic acid bacteria, Bifidobacteria, and Streptococcus thermophilus perform several functions in the gut that support and regulate the physiological balance in the intestinal microbiota. If the body does not get enough prebiotics through food, supplementation with probiotics can help to maintain the right bacterial balance in the organism and improve the immune system. MegaEl-Dena contains 8 species of bacteria that are present in the normal intestinal microbiota of all age groups.