Microbacteria in your gut are essential to a healthy immune system
Published February 21, 2004 in the North Island Weekender
Frequent and recurring infections are amongst the complaints
that I hear about every day in my practice. What is the underlying cause?
Let me tell you about the microflora which is an important
component of the immune system that resides in the gut and how it is
established. Firstly the microflora in your gut amounts to about 3 to 3.5
pounds! That is about the same size as a healthy liver! What this means in the
microbiology world is that it is regarded as a separate organ with a crucial
role in the functioning of the immune system. Microflora is established during
the birthing process. The intestinal tract of a fetus is sterile until it comes
in contact with the birthing canal. Here it gets a good dose of lactobaccili
bacteria and then as the babe comes in contact with microorganisms that live on
the skin of the mother, as well as the organisms in the hospital, these become
established in the microflora. If the baby is born by C-section this initial
colonization of the gut by lactobaccili does not occur and a French study last
year showed that these children go on to have increased incidences of allergy
as they grow up. If the babe then goes on to breast feed then the next bacteria
that colonizes the intestinal tract is bifidobacteria and this is the bacteria
that then dominates the microflora for the next 50 years of life. If the babe
is put on formula feeds then the predominant bacteria is enterobacteria which
includes such bacteria as klebsiella, citrobacter and E. coli and the
population of bifidobacteria is greatly reduced in these babes compared to
breast fed babes.
By the time we are two years old we have microflora similar to adults because of the adult diet that has slowly been introduced. If the diet has been primarily fruits and vegetables then bifidobacteria will continue to dominate the microflora. If the diet is high in meat and low in fruit and vegetables then the microflora is predominantly bacteroides. Bacteroides is a microflora that will promote the production of carcinogens from foods in our intestines and thus the knowledge that those who eat a high meat diet have an increased risk of colorectal cancer. This is due in part to other factors such as a lack of soluble fiber, decreased transit time of food in the gut, and deficiency of type and amount of anti-oxidants.
Other factors that play into upsetting the immune system of the child in the
first two years of life is a family history of eczema or asthma, immunizations
and the use of antibiotics. When all of these are combined there is a 67%
increase incidence of developing allergies later in life. These allergies may
manifest in such diseases as frequent infections, hayfever, asthma, eczema and
irritable bowel syndrome.
The message to mothers then is to breast feed if at all possible for a minimum
of one year, avoid the use of antibiotics to treat infections,use herbal
alternatives and give your child good probiotics (healthy microflora in a
capsule or powder) to stimulate the re-growth of healthy microflora. What is a
good source of microflora? This is a conundrum as there are so many products on
the market. However few of them have been researched in terms of their
viability and effectiveness in the gastrointestinal tract (GI) tract. A good
probiotic will attach to the mucous membrane of the GI tract and colonize to
establish healthy numbers of lactobaccili and bifidobacteria, the two
predominant microflora in the gut, and the two that are entirely safe to give
to a newborn. Many species on the marked including those used to make yogurt do
not colonize in the gut, but pass right through or in other cases are not safe
to take. The number of organisms stated on the label of a product is usually
not what will grow in the lab when tested. The two companies I recommend are
Natren or Seroyal human microflora. These products have been tested to be
stable for three months out of the fridge and when kept in the fridge have an
indefinite shelf life.
So when Johnny, age 2, came in with an asthma condition I not only prescribed
herbs and other nutrients to treat the function of the lungs, I got to the
cause of the problem which was an unhealthy mix of microflora. Looking at his
medical history I found that he had his first immunization at age 2 months, got
an ear infection shortly thereafter treated with antibiotics and he has had two
round of antibiotics since for the same complaint. His asthma started shortly
after his last batch of antibiotics and the mother wanted to have alternatives
to the yo yo treatment of inhalers and ventolin treatments. After giving him
Seroyal HMF forte powder daily for several months, his mother reports that he
has no infections in the last six months and no asthma attacks either. Johnny
will no doubt have some asthma recurring however his mother will find the
attacks much less frequent and more easily controlled.
Looking for the cause of allergies and frequent infections always starts in the
gut and looking at the health of this incredible organ called the microflora,
that has 10 times the number of organisms than cells in your entire body! Think
about it!
Dr.
Pincott has been practicing naturopathic medicine since 1985 and is currently
practicing in Campbell River. She can be reached at (250) 286-3655 or www.DrPincott.com