Medical research shows: the right bacteria contribute to our health

Many scientific studies prove the positive effect of probiotics in food-related allergic reactions. In allergic persons, the harmful effects of antigens are reduced by active, anti-inflammatory bacteria.

Source: Majamaa H & Isolauri E (1997) Probiotics: a novel approach in the management of food allergy. J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. 99:179–18

Nattokinase, a protein from the Japanese food "natto" (fermented soybeans), has a positive effect on the body because it lowers blood pressure, prevents vascular diseases and has a fibrinolytic effect. Nattokinase thus lowers high blood pressure and is considered a good protection against strokes, heart attacks, lung embolism and even Alzheimer's disease..

Source: Ruei-Lin Hsu et a., Amyloid-Degrading Ability of Nattokinase from Bacillus subtilis Natto, J. Agric. Food Chem. 2009, 57, 503–508

The lactobacillus contained in fermented foods reduces cholesterol levels in the blood. With the help of a healthy intestinal flora, cholesterol can be broken down and reduced into alternative substances, which are then finally excreted in the stool.

Source: Bukowska H. et a., Decrease in fibrinogen and LDL-cholesterol levels upon supplementation of diet with Lactobacillus plantarum in subjects with moderately elevated cholesterol, Atherosclerosis. 1998 Apr;137(2):437-8; Laparra et a., Interactions of gut microbiota with functional food components and nutraceuticals. Pharmacology Research 2010;61(3):219-25.

It has been proven that not only the brain can influence the intestine, but that the gut can also influence the brain and thus the emotional state of a person. Studies have shown that people who traditionally ate fermented food are generally more positive and stress-resistant. They are less likely to suffer from depressive symptoms or anxiety.

Source: Eva M Selhub et a.: Fermented foods, microbiota, and mental health: ancient practice meets nutritional psychiatry, J Physiol Anthropol. 2014; 33(1): 2.

Supplementing the intestinal flora with lactic acid bacteria can help to effectively prevent and to treat diabetes. These bacteria release appetite-regulating hormones and effectively stimulate the metabolic process.

Source: Rad A. et a., The Future of Diabetes Management by Healthy Probiotic Microorganisms, Curr Diabetes Rev. 2017;13(6): 582-589.

Yeast and other probiotics, according to clinical findings, help in the prevention and treatment of antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Selected probiotics can also shorten the duration of rotavirus-induced diarrhea.

Source: Gismondo MR et a. (1999), Review of probiotics available to modify gastrointestinal flora. Int. J. Antimicrobial Agents 12: 287–292; Saavedra JM et a. (1994) Feeding of Bifidobacterium bifidum and Streptococcus thermophilus to infants in hospital for prevention of diarrhoea and shedding of rotavirus. Lancet 344: 1046–1049.

Helicobacter pylori infections are among the most common chronic bacterial infections worldwide. The bacterium promotes inflammation of the stomach (gastritis, stomach ulcers) and of the mucous membrane of the small intestine (duodenal ulcers), which can also lead to cancer, if chronic. Drug treatment of the infection causes many undesirable effects such as diarrhoea and nausea. One trial showed that lactic acid bacteria can reduce the side effects and improve the efficacy of the treatment.

Source: Sanz Y, De Palma G.. Int Rev Immunol. 2009.

In most epidemiological studies, regular daily consumption of fermented products is recommended because it can reduce the risk of certain types of cancer. The consumption of live bacteria, probiotic products and polyphenols has been shown to reduce the risk of colon cancer.

Source: Hirayama K & Rafter J (2000) The role of probiotic bacteria in cancer prevention. Microbes Infect. 2: 681–686; Davis CD and Milner JA, Gastrointestinal microflora, food components and colon cancer prevention, J Nutr Biochem. 2009 Oct;20(10):743-52.

Researches show that fermented dairy products are well tolerated by people with lactose intolerance.

Source: Vesa T et a. (2000) Lactose intolerance. J. Am. Coll. Nutr. 19: 165S–175S

If probiotic products are given to babies with a high risk of neurodermitis over a period of six months before or after birth, the probability of an outbreak of the skin disease can be reduced by about half. Even during the first seven years of life, fermented food helps in preventing eczema.

Source: Doege K. u.A. Impact of maternal supplementation with probiotics during pregnancy on atopic eczema in childhood – a meta-analysis. Br J Nutr 2012;107:1–6; Chang J-S. Synbiotics for Prevention and Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis, JAMA Pediatr published online 25. Januar 2016, doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2015.3943

Probiotics and in particular the lactobacillus plantarum appear to play an important role in gut function. All patients treated with lactic acid bacteria in a relevant study reported that their irritable bowel complaints were decreasing.

Source: Niedzielin K. et a., A controlled, double-blind, randomized study on the efficacy of Lactobacillus plantarum 299V in patients with irritable bowel syndrome, Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2001 Oct;13(10):1143-7.6

Some bacterial species suppress the onset of arthritis. The correct composition of intestinal bacteria could provide new or preventive therapies for patients with arthritis.

Source: Yuichi Maeda and Kiyoshi Takeda, Role of Gut Microbiota in Rheumatoid Arthritis, J. Clin. Med. 2017, 6(6), 60.

Lactic acid bacteria have the property of regulating the immune system. This means that the probiotic bacteria succeed in normalizing the permeability of the intestinal mucosa and in positively changing the intestinal flora. By strengthening the immunological barrier function, the inflammatory reaction of the intestine is reduced.

Source: Isolauri E (2001) Probiotics in human disease. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 73: S1142–S1146.

Lactic acid bacteria reduce the permeability of the intestinal mucosa, which can occur as a typical consequence of stress. This reduces stress perception and prevents possible overreactions.

Source: Foster et a.: Gut-brain axis: how the microbiome influences anxiety and depression. Trends Neurosci. 2013 May;36(5):305-12.