"Recapture Your Perfect Health the Natural Way"

1. The bacteria contained in Infantiflora and Intestiflora are said to be of human origin. When and from whom were they isolated?

They were isolated from healthy persons many years ago ( names or surnames are never given in Culture Collections Catalogs) and were checked for a number of probiotic properties, such as:

1. the production of anti-microbial substances (anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal);
2. the ability to stimulate the human immune system;
3. the ability to produce vitamins and growth factors;
4. the ability to regulate intestinal transit of food;
5. improvement in lactose digestion;
6. resistance to hydrochloric acid present in the stomach;
7. resistance to bile;
8. the ability to assimilate cholesterol;
9. the ability to colonize human intestines;
10. the ability to modify or remove mutagenic and/or carcinogenic substances from the intestinal tract;
11. the ability to reduce the inflammation of the intestinal epithelium;
12. the ability to reduce increased intestinal permeability.

2. What are the side effects of Intestiflora and Infantiflora?

No adverse side effects have been reported for probiotic products if taken at indicated quantities. With a significant overdose of these products, the presence of loose stools was observed. When the intake of probiotic products is decreased, stools return to normal consistency.

3. What effect do they have on other medicines?

To the best of our knowledge there are no known adverse effects.

4. For how long should they be taken?

There is no single answer to this question. Probiotics are not medicines and should not be treated as such.

5. Contraindications to the administration of probiotics;

NONE have been indicated in the literature. In our opinion, -severely immuno-compromised patients should perhaps avoid taking high numbers of probiotic bacteria, as the possibility of their translocation has not been completely elucidated or ruled out.

6. Why should probiotic products be encapsulated and not in tablet form?

Encapsulation offers better protection during storage (i.e. protection against the exposure to moisture and oxygen) and during passage through the digestive tract (a very acidic environment in the stomach). The protection is enhanced if gelatin capsules are pre-treated (hardened) by the process of freezing.

It should be stressed that some processes of tablet production are carried out at high temperatures and may result in the decrease of the viable count of probiotic preparations.

7. Why should probiotic products be taken on an empty stomach?

1. to avoid mixing with food (if entangled in the food matrix these bacteria can be simply excreted);
2. to avoid stimulation of the digestive enzyme secretion, which accompanies the entry of food into the stomach and which could have an adverse effect on probiotic preparations.

8. These bacteria live naturally in the intestines of humans at a temperature of about 37°C . Why then should these capsules be stored below 8°C?

The lyophilized bacteria present in Intestiflora and Infantiflora capsules are in the so-called "suspended-life" state. In the presence of moisture, at a temperature of 37°C, (which is the optimum growth temperature), the probiotic bacteria may revive. As they do not have enough nutrients in the capsule they will die. As they do not grow/multiply at temperatures below 8°C, maintaining them at these temperatures and at the same time depriving them of moisture (silica gel provided in each container) maximizes their survival.

9.The bacteria in these capsules are also found in yoghurt. Is it not better to take yoghurt?

1. No, it is not true that these bacteria are generally found in yoghurt. Other lactic acids bacteria, with different characteristics- such as: the ability to produce esters, the ability to rapidly acidify milk and to produce specific aroma, are used for the production of yoghurt;
2. Bacteria used for the production of yoghurt are not of human origin, i.e. they were not isolated from a healthy human intestine;
3. Bacteria generally used for the production of yoghurt - do not posses "probiotic properties listed in the answer to question No 1, among others do not have the ability to colonize the human intestines. The yoghurt bacteria constitute the so-called "transient intestinal flora";
4. Although yoghurt is a healthy beverage and contains lactic acid, one would have to drink 1 000-10 000 liters of yoghurt to have the same number of bacteria which are present in a single capsule. Due to the low pH of yoghurt and to usually long time period between production and consumption, the probiotic bacteria, if used for the manufacturing of yoghurt die and their number cannot be controlled .
5. In view of the above, it is better and more effective to take capsules containing known, high numbers of probiotic bacteria.

YES, it is safe and beneficial for an expecting mother to take Intestiflora during pregnancy. Not only it is beneficial for her, but also she can pass Bifidobacteria (present in Intestiflora) to her baby during natural birth.

11. What if these bacteria are absorbed into the blood stream from the GIT?

It is not highly probable among the normal population, but may happen among the ICU patients and among the severely immuno-compromised patients. In such cases any micro-organism present in the GIT tract could be translocated into the blood stream.

12. Will these bacteria be absorbed into the blood stream from open wounds like ulcers or damaged skin like nappy rash?

It is not very probable. If such a transfer took place, the human immune system would deal with the "invading" bacteria.

13. The bacteria in Intestiflora dwell in the intestines. By what mechanism are they able to combat vaginal candidiasis?

In a healthy vagina, microflora is normally dominated by lactic acid -bacteria (e.g. by bacteria of the genera Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium), the flora which is responsible for maintaining a healthy vaginal mucosa and for preventing pathogenic microorganisms from multiplying and colonizing the area.

Normal vaginal flora can be lost or its balance can be disturbed by:

1. antibiotic or steroid therapy;
2. frequent douching with chemicals or bathing using various disinfectants, foams, fragrances etc.;
3. the use of deodorant sprays;
4. the use of laundry soaps and fabric softeners (which can also lead to vulvar irritation).

 

When Intestiflora is administered orally, both groups of probiotic bacteria supplied in Intestiflora capsules (i.e., Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria ) will be present in the GIT and in the bowel. The probiotic bacteria- can be easily transferred externally (e.g. in a bath, in a toilet) from the rectum to the vagina due to close anatomical proximity of these organs. Once they reach the vagina, they should multiply very fast (doubling time is approximately 30-40 min) and restore the lost vaginal microflora and the lost microbalance.

Lactic acid bacteria, particularly strains with proven probiotic properties such as those used in manufacturing of Intestiflora(-and of Vagiforte), prevent the majority of pathogenic bacteria, viruses, fungi or protozoa from multiplying and becoming dominant.

Currently accepted mechanisms by which probiotic bacteria maintain their dominance include:

1. the production in situ of antimicrobial compounds (such as lactic, acetic or formic acid) which results in/leads to the maintaining of low pH (pH 3,8 to 4,5) in the vagina or of H₂O₂ which inhibits the growth of the majority of pathogenic bacteria invading the vagina and of the overgrowth of Candida albicans;
2. the competition for nutrients and adhesion sites in the vagina. (Probiotic strains are selected among others for their ability to become attached to the human intestinal and vaginal mucosa and to colonize it).

In addition, the presence of probiotic Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria in the GIT should significantly decrease the numbers of C. albicans (occurring naturally in the intestines), thus lowering the chances of repeated "re-infections" originating from the bowel.

The general stimulation of the immune system by probiotic bacteria present in the intestines via MALT (Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue) system, should also have beneficial effects on fighting bacterial or fungal vaginal infections.

14. Are these bacteria antibiotic resistant? If not, won’t they be killed if taken together with antibiotics?

They are not antibiotic resistant and they should not be taken with antibiotics. Yes, they will be killed by wide spectrum antibiotics and by the antibiotics capable of killing Gram-positive bacteria.

If probiotic bacteria were antibiotic resistant, they could transfer this property to pathogenic bacteria present in the digestive tract by one or more of the known mechanisms.

15. Why should we protect Infantiflora from air and moisture when on administration, the contents are to be mixed with liquids?

Because in the presence of air and moisture the probiotic bacteria present in the capsules might become alive. If they become alive while still being in a capsule, they would die due to the lack of nutrients. When the bacteria revive in the digestive tract in the presence of water, they have more than sufficient amount of nutrients available to them for maintenance and multiplication.

16. What effect do the infant’s acidic gastric juices have on Infantiflora?

The infant produces smaller amounts of gastric juices (remember, the infants are not digesting mother’s antibodies present in the colostrum) than an adult and for that reason fewer bacteria will be killed. The bacteria present in Infantiflora, administered without the protection of the capsule, have been found to be effective.

17. Where exactly in the GIT do the bacteria contained in Intestiflora and Infantiflora live?

Lactobacillus resides in the small intestine (particularly in the lower part) and -Bifidobacterium resides in the colon. Both groups of bacteria live predominantly on the internal surface of the intestines, in the mucus lining the intestinal epithelium. They can be also present in the intestinal lumen. In addition, both types live in the mouth, where, by maintaining correct microbial balance, they protect the host against pathological bacteria yeast and virueses.

18. What is the maintenance dose?

Usually one capsule a day.

19. By what mechanisms can the bacteria present in Intestiflora combat oral thrush?

The microflora of a healthy mouth is normally dominated by lactic acid bacteria (e.g. by bacteria of the genera Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium). These bacteria are responsible for maintaining a healthy oral mucosa and for preventing pathogenic microorganisms from multiplying and colonizing the area.

Normal oral flora can be lost or its balance can be disturbed by:

1. antibiotic or steroid therapy;
2. the use of some mouth washes (e.g. Hibitane, Betadine);
3. the use of tooth paste containing strong anti-bacterial substances;
4. the advancing age or general lowering of immunity.

Lactic acid bacteria, particularly strains with proven probiotic properties such as those used in manufacturing of- Intestiflora, can prevent the majority of pathogenic bacteria, viruses and fungi from multiplying and becoming dominant.

Currently accepted mechanisms by which probiotic bacteria maintain their dominance include:

1. the production in situ of antimicrobial compounds (such as lactic, acetic or formic acid) which leads to the low pH (pH 3,8 to 4,5) in the mouth or the production of H₂O₂ which inhibits the growth of the majority of pathogenic bacteria invading the mouth and of the overgrowth of Candida albicans;
2. the competition for nutrients and adhesion sites in the mouth. (Probiotic strains are selected among others for their ability to become attached to the human mucosa and to colonize it).

The general stimulation of the immune system by probiotic bacteria present in the intestines via MALT (Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue) system, should also have beneficial effects on fighting bacterial or fungal oral infections.

In severe cases it is recommended to spread the contents of one capsule directly in the mouth and repeat two or three times a day.

It should be stressed that young infants should not be given orally any products comprising Lactobacillus cultures. Lactobacilli produce a form of lactic acid [D (-) lactic acid] which is not easily metabolized by infants less than one year of age and which can lead to the development of metabolic acidosis during the first year of development.

20. Probiotic bacteria and the enhanced intestinal permeability (intestinal hyperpermeability)

Intestinal hyperpermeability can be caused, inter alia, by malnutrition, inflammatory conditions, surgery, trauma, sepsis, cold shock, starvation, immuno-suppression, endotoxaemia or chemotherapy. Poverty and unhygienic living conditions further increase the extent of the problem. Gastrointestinal hyperpermeability can, in turn, lead to the excessive translocation of certain molecules and microorganisms. When the translocation is minimal, the body’s immune system has the ability to deal with it. However, a pathological increase in gut permeability can have serious consequences and can for instance give rise to gastrointestinal- disturbances, ranging from mild to severe, which in turn can lead to toxaemia, septicaemia and even death.

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Revised: March 31, 2004 .