Coax your gut to give you the boost with probiotics

Do you have the guts? A metaphorical question, without realising that it had far reaching implications deep down into your intestines.The wealth of bacteria in the large gut and its diverse product lines, is the realm of the microbiome - the army of good bacteria that resides in the colon.What began as the functional necessity of producing vitamin-like factors called probiotics (Vs antibiotics), by these 'good 'Samaritans' (all bacteria are not bad), today the concept that they are responsible for providing the functioning body with a multitude of good factors has reached a different level.When antibiotics are used to kill the invading bugs, they unfortunately also attack the good 'guys' and deplete them, creating the need for providing probiotics to support and repopulate the gut, to allow return to normal physiology. It is commonplace to see lactobacillus, bifidobacterium etc containing capsules given along with antibiotics. In fact, patients using antibiotics for long without such supplementation are seen to develop oral ulcers, stomatitis and even diarrhoea, arising from the interruption in production of folic acid and such-like factors from the depleted gut. Similarly, therapy for gastroenteritis includes providing the gut with such high concentrations of probiotic bugs, that it allows the colonic bank to refortify its functional capacity and weed out the local infection. Carrying this concept to a different level, protagonists these days are even populating the gut with a heavy dose of specific good bacteria, just as a panacea, and even for wellness. Besides assisting a depleted gut, such purified large doses would stimulate production of favourable compounds that could enter the bloodstream and deliver far-reaching benefits. 'Align', a popular formulation, is an example where these orally administered 'bifi' bugs go in to generate certain neuro-transmitters which seem to have a soothing effect on mind, memory and behaviour thus crowning them as 'psychobiotics'. It is claimed that chronic use of more populations of different such strains, lends help in alleviating anxiety ,toning down depression and even improving cognitive performance Of course, there will be critics since the studies to this effect are few, but the science of this remains intact and stimulates one to have a go, which would otherwise be harmless. Curd, which is the daily probiotic, is an example of this surrogate wisdom and stands out ubiquitously in all diets Bring in active practice, I must admit, that the ability of the microbiome (bacteria related gut environment within) to perform and deliver manifold and heretofore undiscovered pro-factors, has immense potential still to be tapped. Probably the method in the madness of the term 'my gut feeling' and the availability of a plethora of probiotics with different compositions and concentrations are evidence of the growing faith in this concept. While researchers continue to unveil the power in your insides, Probiotics have come to occupy a 'Pathaan-like' position in the therapeutic armamentarium.(Dr Hemant Thacker is a consultant physician & cardiometabolic specialist practicing in south Mumbai and is affiliated to the Times' Group. Email:dochpt@gmail.com)