Probiotics: list of the most effective remedies

Probiotics are live microbes that have beneficial effects on human health. The positive effects of probiotics develop if adequate dosage is used. In addition to the concept of “probiotics”, you can also come across other definitions, for example, “prebiotics”, “synbiotics”. A prebiotic is a substance (not a microorganism) that is formed during certain changes in the intestinal microbiota and also has a positive effect on human health. For understanding, gut microbiota refers to all the bacteria found in the human intestines. Prebiotics are not digested in the human gastrointestinal tract. They exert their positive influence due to their beneficial effect on intestinal microbes. Essentially, they provide food for gut bacteria. Probiotics and prebiotics have their beneficial effects on many body systems, but their main point of action is the intestines. A synbiotic is a medicine that contains both probiotics and prebiotics.

In this article we will look at the main effects of probiotics and prebiotics, indications for their use, as well as recommended medications according to the global practice guidelines of the World Gastroenterological Organization.

What are probiotics

Probiotics, or eubiotics in other words, are beneficial live bacteria that, in the normal state of the intestines, create a healthy microflora. That is, these are substances necessary for the body that can suppress the negative effects of pathogenic and opportunistic microbes.

Such microorganisms have many beneficial properties:

Responsible for the synthesis of biotin, folic acid and vitamin K.
Promote the regeneration of the mucous membranes of the body and restore the microflora.
Prevent exposure to pathogenic and toxic substances.
Increase protective functions.

Changes in the composition and quantity of intestinal bacteria provoke disorders, causing dysbiosis and other diseases in children and adults.

Prebiotics

Most natural prebiotics are found in many foods: cereals, dairy products, spreads, cookies, bananas, chocolate and others.

Prebiotics can be obtained not only from tablets.

The most common prebiotics:

Lactulose. Has a positive effect when a child experiences constipation.
Oligofructose. The conversion of oligofructose in the large intestine leads to the formation of positive effects, such as: accelerating the digestion of food, improving calcium absorption, increasing the volume of feces, reducing the level of harmful fats in the blood, stimulating the growth of beneficial bifidobacteria in the intestines. In turn, the growth of bifidobacteria helps reduce the level of toxins in the blood, and also stimulates the production of vitamins and enzymes in the child’s gastrointestinal tract.
Inulin.
Galacto-oligosaccharides.
Breast milk oligosaccharides.

Classification of probiotics

There is a whole classification of drugs that improve intestinal microflora:

First generation - only one type of microorganism is present. Representatives are Bifidumbacterin, Dactobacterin, Colibacterin and others.
Second generation - such probiotics contain yeast fungi and bacilli, which, upon penetration into the body, have a therapeutic effect and help normalize normal intestinal flora. Effective representatives of the second row: Biosporin, Bactistatin, Sporobacterin.
The third generation consists of drugs that contain a whole range of beneficial strains of bacteria and various additives. These drugs include: Acipol, Bifiliz, Linex, Lebenin.
The fourth generation is a probiotic medicine based on bifidumbacteria with a pronounced sorbing effect. Representatives are: Probifor, Bifidumbacterin Forte, Florin Forte.

There are currently a lot of probiotic manufacturers. However, it is recommended to choose products that are manufactured by domestic pharmaceutical companies, since such preparations contain beneficial bacteria that are adapted to the climate in Russia. While foreign drugs often have low therapeutic properties.

Also, before you start taking probiotics, you should familiarize yourself with the procedure for taking them. All features are described in the instructions or you can consult a doctor. It is impossible to take drugs uncontrollably, as they can cause severe pathological disorders. Improper use of probiotics can cause weight gain, an allergic reaction, an imbalance of cytokines in the body, and the formation of stones in the urinary and gall bladder.

Probiotics for the intestines: list of drugs

The most effective probiotic preparations for normalizing microflora and combating pathological conditions of the intestine are:

Bifidumbacterin is available in many dosage forms: tablets, suppositories, powder, capsules, ampoules, dry and liquid mixture. The composition contains bifidobacteria in various doses. A product is used to suppress the activity of pathogenic and opportunistic microbes. Prescribed for adults and children over 3 years of age.
Linex - presented in the form of capsules for oral administration. The active components of the probiotic are bifidumbacteria, enterococci and lactobacilli. They promote the formation of healthy flora, provoke the production of essential vitamins, cause an acidic environment and improve the functioning of digestive enzymes.
Biosporin is a second generation drug. Contains a large number of living bacteria - up to 2 billion. Available in the form of tablets and powder for further preparation of the solution. It has a broad therapeutic effect and can be used for the treatment and prevention of intestinal disorders in adults and children.
Colibacterin is available in powder form for oral administration. The basis of the probiotic is the dry mass of live E. coli. The pharmacological effect is to fight pathogenic microbes, improve immune status and produce the body necessary vitamins, enzymes, and amino acids. The drug has a detrimental effect on Proteus, Salmonella and Staphylococcus. Intended for the treatment of adults and children.
Acipol is an effective probiotic in capsules for all age groups. It has a complex and healthy composition, which includes live lactobacilli and kefir grains. Taking the medicine helps restore damaged flora, activates the synthesis of important biological substances and helps improve intestinal motility, preventing constipation. The list of indications is quite large.

Any generation of probiotics must be taken correctly, it is advisable to consult your doctor first. This will help avoid negative consequences and increase the therapeutic effect of the drugs.

If the intestinal microflora needs help

Often the gastrointestinal tract works overtime. Especially on holidays and during vacations. Overeating, lack of diet and, for those who are especially lucky, intestinal infections are all the other side of the excesses that we allow ourselves at the table.

Winter and the intestines: what is the connection?

It is important to arrange rehabilitation of your gastrointestinal tract after gastronomic exploits. After all, we need his strength so much now. The cold season is a period during which all the body’s immune forces are activated, and the intestines are one of the most important immune organs.

The totality of intestinal microorganisms (microbiota) is directly involved in the activation of the body's immune systems. The intestinal microflora for the most part consists of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli, which perform functions that are very important for our immunity:

prevent the emergence of pathogenic microflora;
produce enzymes to digest food;
participate in the synthesis and absorption of vitamins and many other important elements;
are responsible for the production of lymphoid cells, which subsequently perform their defensive function in other organs;
participate in the formation of the immune response to foreign bacteria and microorganisms;
support the intestinal immune system, which produces IgA immunoglobulins.

That is why, only if the microflora is normal, the intestines are able to perform their protective functions and it is easier for the body to resist viral diseases.

Do I have problems with microflora?

Signs of dysbiosis are difficult to miss. Everyone has encountered these symptoms at least once in their life:

dyspepsia (nausea, flatulence, heartburn, heaviness in the stomach);
stool disorders (diarrhea, constipation);
the occurrence of food allergies;
increased fatigue, decreased mood, signs of depression, lethargy;
deterioration of skin and hair condition;
rapid weight gain or loss.

If you find yourself with the listed symptoms, then you should think about how to support your body during the difficult autumn-winter period.

To begin with, it is worth noting that in order to normalize the functioning of the intestines, it is necessary first of all to eliminate factors that negatively affect its functioning: stress, poor diet, alcohol, smoking. As soon as you return to a healthy lifestyle, the body will begin to restore the normal functionality of the intestinal tract. Also, some medications have a destructive effect on the state of microflora: antibiotics, antidepressants, hormonal and others.

Of course, for most of us it is quite difficult to suddenly give up bad habits and start eating only healthy foods. Yes, and stopping taking a drug prescribed by a doctor is also a bad idea. For such cases, there are drugs that normalize the intestinal microflora, namely, probiotics and prebiotics.

Pro- or pre-: what's the difference?

Probiotics are live microorganisms that are normally present in the intestines of every healthy person and, when administered in adequate quantities, provide benefits. These include:

lactobacilli (L. casei, L. acidophilus, etc.);
bifidobacteria (B. bifidum, B. infantis, B. longum, etc.);
lactic acid streptococcus;
non-pathogenic varieties of enterococcus;
non-pathogenic varieties of Escherichia coli.

Manufacturers produce a wide variety of dietary supplements and over-the-counter medications containing one (single-component) or several (multicomponent) probiotics. The range of these drugs is presented in different forms of release: powders in sachet, capsules with lyophilisates of bacteria, liquid forms, tablets and others.

Unfortunately, there is no universal probiotic for all diseases, so the most effective drug will be one prescribed by a doctor depending on the causes of dysbiosis.

Prebiotics are substances that are not absorbed and partially or completely not digested by our body. Their consumption has a beneficial effect on the growth and reproduction of the intestinal’s own beneficial bacteria. That is, this is the food that probiotics need for normal functioning.

Based on their origin, they can be divided into substances:

carbohydrate nature (monosaccharides, oligosaccharides, polysaccharides, sugar alcohols);
protein nature (peptides);
others (lactobionic acid, polyphenols).

The most commonly used prebiotics are lactulose, inulin, oligofructose and dietary fiber. All these substances are included in medications and dietary supplements, the mechanism of action of which is based on maintaining the balance and constancy of the intestinal microflora.

Without being digested in the previous sections of the gastrointestinal tract, they enter the large intestine in transit and there create comfortable conditions for the life of “native” microflora bacteria.

Together or apart?

Depending on the individual characteristics of the body, the causes, form and nature of dysbiosis, the prescribed dosage forms and rules for taking probiotics and prebiotics will differ. They can be used together, in turn, or in the form of synbiotics (preparations containing beneficial bacteria and a nutrient medium for them). Therefore, it is better to coordinate their choice with your doctor.

But there are general recommendations that are relevant for any drug regimen to normalize the microflora:

Prepare the body with enterosorbent. This helps remove all toxins from the body before taking medications to normalize the microflora.
Adjust your diet. Reduce your consumption of sugar and foods containing it, eat more complex carbohydrates, fiber and greens.

With the right preparation and regular use of probiotics and prebiotics, you will very soon feel light and energetic, and your intestines, in gratitude, will help your immune system resist all the adversities of the autumn-winter season.

Be healthy!

Sources:

Kaibysheva, V. O. Probiotics from the position of evidence-based medicine / V. O. Kaibysheva, E. L. Nikonov // Evidence-based gastroenterology. - 2021. - 8 (3). — P. 45–54.
Khramtsov, A. G. Prebiotics as functional food ingredients: terminology, criteria for selection and comparative evaluation, classification / A. G. Khramtsov, S. A. Ryabtseva, R. O. Budkevich [and others] // Nutrition Issues. - T. 87. - No. 1. - 2021. - P. 5–17.
Bovbel, I. E. Modern ideas about the intestinal microbiota and the possibility of effective use of probiotics in the practice of a pediatrician / I. E. Bovbel // Medical news. — 2021. — No. 2. — P. 25–31.
Microbiota / ed. E. L. Nikonova and E. L. Popova // Media Sphere. — 2021. — pp. 20–30.

Anna Gorobets, pharmacist, medical journalist
Photo depositphotos.com The author’s opinion may not coincide with the opinion of the editors