Gut microbiota and natural probiotic supplements
When we hear about microbes, we immediately think of something negative. In reality, billions of “good” microbes live together in our body, belonging to a great many different species. And we’d be in real trouble without them!
Most of these microbes, in fact, make up our gut microbiota (or gut bacterial flora), which is extremely important for our wellbeing. That’s because our microbiota is a sort of natural barrier that protects us from attack by pathogens and carries out a myriad of beneficial actions for the whole body, for example at the immune and metabolic level.
However, there are some factors – from an unhealthy diet to antibiotic treatments – that can jeopardise its balance, shifting it from a state of wellbeing, known as eubiosis, to one of dysbiosis.
Dysbiosis is a state of imbalance in the gut microbiota in which a few types of potentially harmful (or pathogenic) microorganisms, sometimes even just one, predominate over the others, altering the functions of the gut and therefore of other parts of the body.
And this is where probiotic supplements come into play, working precisely on the biodiversity of the gut microbiota in order to promote its balance.
What are natural probiotics?
The World Health Organization defines probiotics as “live microorganisms which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host”.
To confer this benefit, a probiotic:
- must be able to survive the acidic environment of the stomach and bile salts, and reach the gut alive and viable;
- must be able to adhere to the intestinal mucosa and colonise it;
- must be a normal constituent of the flora of a healthy gut, with no side effects.
Now let’s look at which wellbeing needs you can address with probiotics.
Natural probiotics for the gut
Probiotics are useful in all those situations where the gut is under stress and makes itself felt through imbalances that can range from bloating to diarrhoea, and from constipation to digestive upsets.
The formula of ProbioGea Intestino is specifically designed to address these situations through the synergistic action of several families, genera, species and strains of probiotics – lactobacilli, bifidobacteria, bacilli and yeasts – all naturally present in a healthy gut.
Studies conducted on its patented probiotic complex, made up of two species of lactobacilli and one bifidobacterium, have shown:
- an action that counteracts the colonisation of the gut by agents that cause alterations in it;1
- relief from intestinal imbalances in a short time, with results maintained over time.2
Useful for restoring the gut flora after antibiotic treatment.
Probiotics for women’s wellbeing
That’s right, probiotics can be great allies of vulvovaginal wellbeing. Did you know? That’s why we have also formulated ProbioGea Donna, a supplement with specific probiotics that can be taken when the most common intimate imbalances appear, whether caused by habits and lifestyle or linked to the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and menopause.
Inside, you’ll find probiotics that are normally present in the vaginal flora, alongside a patented probiotic complex and lactoferrin.
An interesting study3 showed how the combination of lactobacilli and lactoferrin, used to support antibiotic treatment for vaginal infections, helps to reduce symptoms and recurrences.
Useful for restoring the vaginal flora after antibiotic treatment.
Probiotics and mental wellbeing
The gut and the brain influence each other, so much so that we talk about a functional gut-brain axis. And that’s why probiotics can also be indirectly useful for emotional wellbeing. In fact, you should know that probiotics produce substances in the gut that act beneficially on the brain, such as serotonin, also known as the “happiness hormone”.
In ProbioGea Mente you’ll find the lactobacilli and bifidobacteria of a patented probiotic complex which, through in vitro tests and clinical studies,4-5 has been shown to:
- support the body’s response to environmental stress;
- promote the production of neurotransmitters that influence emotional wellbeing;
- support concentration, memory and problem-solving skills;
- act positively on mood and sleep quality.
- support the emotional state of new mothers after giving birth and during breastfeeding
Natural probiotics in pharmacies
In pharmacies you’ll find many probiotic supplements. Which one should you choose? As well as considering the number of live cells and strains, remember that, to be effective, probiotics must be able to survive gastric acids: only then can they reach the gut alive and viable and carry out their functions.
That’s why we recommend choosing probiotics contained in acid-resistant capsules, just like the probiotics in the ProbioGea Line (which, incidentally, are kept in pharmaceutical-grade dark glass packaging, not in plastic or blister packs).
By the way, Salugea’s natural probiotic supplements are also available in pharmacies!
Sources and Bibliography
1 Presti I, D’Orazio G, Labra M, et al. Evaluation of the probiotic properties of new Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains and their in vitro effect. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2015 Jul;99(13):5613-26. doi: 10.1007/s00253-015-6482-8. Epub 2015 Mar 7. PMID: 25744647.
2 Mezzasalma V, Manfrini E, Ferri E, et al. A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial: The Efficacy of Multispecies Probiotic Supplementation in Alleviating Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome Associated with Constipation. Biomed Res Int. 2016;2016:4740907. doi: 10.1155/2016/4740907. Epub 2016 Aug 9. Erratum in: Biomed Res Int. 2019 Apr 9;2019:9042956. PMID: 27595104; PMCID: PMC4993960.
3 Russo R, Karadja E, De Seta F. Evidence-based mixture containing Lactobacillus strains and lactoferrin to prevent recurrent bacterial vaginosis: a double blind, placebo controlled, randomised clinical trial. Benef Microbes. 2019 Feb 8;10(1):19-26. doi: 10.3920/BM2018.0075. Epub 2018 Dec 10. PMID: 30525953.
4 Nobile V, Giardina S, Puoci F. The Effect of a Probiotic Complex on the Gut-Brain Axis: A Translational Study. Neuropsychobiology. 2022;81(2):116-126. doi: 10.1159/000518385. Epub 2021 Aug 30. PMID: 34515196.
5 Nobile V, Puoci F. Effect of a Multi-Strain Probiotic Supplementation to Manage Stress during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Cross-Over Clinical Trial. Neuropsychobiology. 2023;82(2):61-71. doi: 10.1159/000527956. Epub 2023 Jan 12. PMID: 36634645; PMCID: PMC9843736.
