PROBIOTICS AND HEALTH

Gregor Reid,PhD,MBA 한국식품영양과학회 2001 한국식품영양과학회 학술대회발표집 Vol.50 No.-

The ability of microbial strains to confer health benefits to human and animal hosts is not a feature of many organisms. Lactic acid bacteria are the most commonly used bacteria applied as probiotics and there is now strong evidence that certain strains confer tangible benefits to the host. In terms of preventing infection, the ability of probiotic lactobacilli to colonize the tissue site, even temporarily, and inhibit growth and adhesion of pathogens, has been documented. Using molecular tools, such as RAPD and DGGE, probiotic organisms can be tracked through the intestine and in the vagina, and their impact on the flora assessed. Arguably, strains L. rhamnosus GG and GR-1 are the most studied probiotic strains in terms of human application to the gut (GG and GR-1) and vagina (GR-1). Combined with L. fermentum RC-14, GR-1 provides a two-pronged therapeutic for the intestine and urogenital tract. Care in manufacturing and distribution is essential to ensure that optimal doses of probiotics are accessible to consumers and patients.

Cranberry Juice to Reduce Bladder Biofilms and Infection in Geriatric and Spinal Cord Injured Patients with Dysfunctional Bladders

Reid, Gregor,Potter, Patrick,Lam, Dominique,Warren, Diny,Borrie, Michael,Hayes, Keith The Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition 2003 Preventive Nutrition and Food Science Vol.8 No.1

There is evidence to suggest that cranberry juice supplements improve the health of the urinary tract by inhibiting the binding of fimbriated uropathogenic E. coli to the bladder mucosa. In patients with neurogenic bladders, urinary tract infections (UTI) are particularly common and often poorly managed by antibiotic treatment. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was undertaken on 29 geriatric and spinal cord injured patients with dysfunctional bladders. They received three times daily at mealtimes a 4 oz bottle of cranberry juice (Ocean Spray Cranberries, USA) or a specially prepared synthetic placebo drink. Two episodes of UTI arose in week one of cranberry intake and none thereafter, compared to four episodes of UTI in 4 placebo patients in weeks four, six and 10. Mean bacterial adhesion counts on bladder cells of the patients rose during the first month of treatment in 71 % of the placebo patients compared to only 31 % of cranberry patients (p < 0.001). The difference persisted to some extent for the second and third months. Bacterial adhesion levels correlated with culture findings (higher adhesion and higher viable counts in urine) (p < 0.001), positive leukocyte nitrite tests (136$\pm$131 bacteria per cell versus 52$\pm$86 in negative tests) (p < 0.001), and higher white blood cell counts (> 10) per high power field (126$\pm$125 versus 48$\pm$85 bacteria per cell) (p<0.001). E. coli was the most frequently isolated organism (40% samples) followed by K. pneumoniae (17%) and a number of other uropathogens. Group B Streptococci, and coagulase negative Staphylococcus were recovered from urine in 4 samples but were not associated with any red blood cell presence. The daily intake of cranberry juice, in amounts which are not detrimental to long term compliance, appeared to have a role in reducing the risk of bladder colonization and infection in a highly susceptible patient population.

Ability of Lactobacillus GR-1 and RC-14 to Stimulate Host Defences and Reduce Gut Translocation and Infectivity of Salmonella typhimurium

Reid, Gregor,Charbonneau, Duane,Erb, Julie,Poehner, Russ,Gonzalez, Silvia,Gardiner, Gillian,Bruce, Andrew W. The Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition 2002 Preventive Nutrition and Food Science Vol.7 No.2

Gastrointestinal infections kill over two million people each year, and pathogen contamination of livestock causes many cases of food poisoning. Two candidate intestinal probiotic strains, L. rhamnosus GR-1 and L. fermentum RC-14 were found to inhibit the growth of Salmonella typhi, Shigella dysenteriae, E. coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, L. innocua, Enterococcus faecalis, and Bacteroides fragilis. In a series of mouse experiments, L. rhamosus GR-1 and L rhamnosus GG protected against S. typhimurium infection and translocation to the liver and spleen, reduced mortality and induced intestinal phagocytic and immunoglobulin responses. In a second series of experiments, the combination of L. rhamnosus GR-1 and L. fermentum RC-14 was superior to L. rhamnosus GG and placebo in protecting the mice from the lethal effect of salmonella. In summary, the use of combinations of probiotic lactobacilli as dietary supplements or foods could be considered for people at high risk of salmonella intestinal infection. Given the post-infection complications that can arise, such natural methods warrant further exploration especially given the increasing problem of antibiotic resistance and the lack of alternative measures available to many developing countries.

Effect of Lactobacilli Oral Supplement on the Vaginal Microflora of Antibiotic Treated Patients : Randomized, Placebo - Controlled Study

Gregor Reid,Jo-Anne Hammond,Andrew W. Bruce 한국식품영양과학회 2003 Preventive Nutrition and Food Science Vol.8 No.2

Many antibiotic monographs cite the induction of vaginal infections as a possible side effect. Invariably, this is believed to be due to Candida albicans, and empirical therapy is given. However, recent studies raise the question of the extent to which yeast do infect the host after antibiotic use. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study was undertaken on female patients to determine how many yeast infections occurred following 10 days antibiotic use. In addition, the study was designed to examine whether oral use of probiotic lactobacilli can reduce the risk of vaginal infection. Twenty four patients diagnosed with respiratory, oral or throat infections received one of several types of antibiotic for 10 days, and two capsules containing 10^9 dried Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and L. fermentum RC-14 from the day of commencement of antibiotic therapy for 21 days. The most commonly prescribed antibiotic was biaxin (clarithromycin). All but one patient had lactobacilli in the vagina upon entry to the study, and none developed yeast vaginitis or diarrhea during treatment or 20 days after completion of antibiotics. The mean Nugent score was higher in the placebo than the lactobacilli group (4.1 versus 2.4), and three cases of bacterial vaginosis arose (25% incidence compared to 0% in the lactobacilli group) in the placebo group (2 receiving cefuroxime, 1 on biaxin). The study suggested that current antibiotic use is not necessarily associated with either diarrhea or yeast infection, as is often surmised. Nevertheless, daily use of probiotics was safe and could potentially reduce the risk of patients developing bacterial vaginosis after antibiotic use.

Nucleic Acid-Based Diagnosis of Bacterial Vaginosis and Improved Management Using Probiotic Lactobacilli

Gregor Reid,Jeremy Burton,Jo-Anne Hammond,Andrew W. Bruce 한국식품영양과학회 2004 Journal of medicinal food Vol.7 No.2

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common condition in women that represents an imbalance of the vaginal microflora, lactobacilli depletion, and excess growth of mainly anaerobic Gram-negative pathogens. Diagnosis is made using a series of tests or a Gram stain of a vaginal smear. Treatment with antibiotics is quite effective, but recurrences are common. A study of 55 vaginal samples from 11 postmenopausal women showed the presence of BV by the Gram stain-based Nugent scoring system, and polymerase chain reaction–denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis showed that Bacteroides or Prevotella species were the most common isolates recovered (24 of 25), with Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus agalactiae also found in some samples. In one case, only Gardnerella vaginalis was found. These findings illustrate that BV remains common even among otherwise healthy women, but it is not caused solely by either Gardnerella or Mobiluncus. Use of a FemExam™ system (Cooper Surgical, Shelton, CT), based upon elevated pH and trimethylamine levels, to screen vaginal smears from 59 healthy women showed poor correlation with the Gram stain method. A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of these subjects showed that the lactobacilli-dominant microbiota was restored in subjects with BV but not in controls, following 2 months of daily oral intake of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and Lactobacillus fermentum RC-14. These studies show that nucleic acid-based methods are effective at identifying bacteria responsible for BV. If such methods could be used to develop a commercially available, self-use kit, women would be much better placed to take control of their own health, for example, using medicinal food or dietary supplement products such as the clinically proven probiotic strains L. rhamnosus GR-1 and L. fermentum RC-14.

Ability of Lactobacillus GR - 1 and RC - 14 to Stimulate Host Defences and Reduce Gut Translocation and Infectivity of Salmonella typhimurium

Gregor Reid,Duane Charbonneau,Silvia Gonzalez,Gillian Gardiner,Julie Erb,Russ Poehner,Andrew W. Bruce 한국식품영양과학회 2002 Preventive Nutrition and Food Science Vol.7 No.2

Gastrointestinal infections kill over two million people each year, and pathogen contamination of livestock causes many cases of food poisoning. Two candidate intestinal probiotic strains, L. rhamnosus GR - 1 and L. fermentum RC - 14 were found to inhibit the growth of Salmonella typhi, Shigella dysenteriae, E. coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, L. innocua, Enterococcus faecalis, and Bacteroides fragilis. In a series of mouse experiments, L. rhamnosus GR - 1 and L. rhamnosus GG protected against S. typhimurium infection and translocation to the liver and spleen, reduced mortality and induced intestinal phagocytic and immunoglobulin responses. In a second series of experiments, the combination of L. rhamnosus GR - 1 and L. fermentum RC - 14 was superior to L. rhamnosus GG and placebo in protecting the mice from the lethal effect of salmonella. In summary, the use of combinations of probiotic lactobacilli as dietary supplements or foods could be considered for people at high risk of salmonella intestinal infection. Given the post - infection complications that can arise, such natural methods warrant further exploration especially given the increasing problem of antibiotic resistance and the lack of alternative measures available to many developing countries.

Effect of Lactobacilli Oral Supplement on the Vaginal Microflora of Antibiotic Treated Patients: Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study

Reid,Gregor,Hammond, Jo-Anne,Bruce, Andrew W. The Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition 2003 Preventive Nutrition and Food Science Vol.8 No.2

Many antibiotic monographs cite the induction of vaginal infections as a possible side effect. Invariably, this is believed to be due to Candide albicans, and empirical therapy is given. However, recent studies raise the question of the extent to which yeast do infect the host after antibiotic use. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study was undertaken on female patients to determine how many yeast infections occurred following 10 days antibiotic use. In addition, the study was designed to examine whether oval use of probiotic lactobacilli can reduce the risk of vaginal infection. Twenty four patients diagnosed with respiratory, oval or throat infections received one of several types of antibiotic for 10 days, and two capsules containing 10$^{9}$ dried Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and L. fermentum RC-14 from the day of commencement of antibiotic therapy for 21 days. The most commonly prescribed antibiotic was biaxin (clarithromycin). All but one patient had lactobacilli in the vagina upon entry to the study, and none developed yeast vaginitis or diarrhea during treatment or 20 days after completion of antibiotics. The mean Nugent score was higher in the placebo than the lactobacilli group (4.1 versus 2.4), and three cases of bacterial vaginosis arose (25 % incidence compared to 0% in the lactobacilli group) in the placebo group (2 receiving cefuroxime, 1 on biaxin). The study suggested that current antibiotic use is not necessarily associated with either diarrhea or yeast infection, as is often surmised. Nevertheless, daily use of probiotics was safe and could potentially reduce the risk of patients developing bacterial vaginosis after antibiotic use.

Cranberry Juice to Reduce Bladder Biofilms and Infection in Geriatric and Spinal Cord Injured Patients with Dysfunctional Bladders

Gregor Reid,Patrick Potter,Dominique Lam,Diny Warren,Michael Borrie,Keith Hayes 한국식품영양과학회 2003 Preventive Nutrition and Food Science Vol.8 No.1

There is evidence to suggest that cranberry juice supplements improve the health of the urinary tract by inhibiting the binding of fimbriated uropathogenic E. coli to the bladder mucosa. In patients with neurogenic bladders, urinary tract infections (UTI) are particularly common and often poorly managed by antibiotic treatment. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was undertaken on 29 geriatric and spinal cord injured patients with dysfunctional bladders. They received three times daily at mealtimes a 4 oz bottle of cranberry juice (Ocean Spray Cranberries, USA) or a specially prepared synthetic placebo drink. Two episodes of UTI arose in week one of cranberry intake and none thereafter, compared to four episodes of UTI in 4 placebo patients in weeks four, six and 10. Mean bacterial adhesion counts on bladder cells of the patients rose during the first month of treatment in 71% of the placebo patients compared to only 31% of cranberry patients (p<0.001). The difference persisted to some extent for the second and third months. Bacterial adhesion levels correlated with culture findings (higher adhesion and higher viable counts in urine) (p<0.001), positive leukocyte nitrite tests (136±131 bacteria per cell versus 52±86 in negative tests) (p<0.001), and higher white blood cell counts (>10) per high power field (126±125 versus 48±85 bacteria per cell) (p<0.001). E. coli was the most frequently isolated organism (40% samples) followed by K. pneumoniae (17%) and a number of other uropathogens. Group B Streptococci, and coagulase negative Staphylococcus were recovered from urine in 4 samples but were not associated with any red blood cell presence. The daily intake of cranberry juice, in amounts which are not detrimental to long term compliance, appeared to have a role in reducing the risk of bladder colonization and infection in a highly susceptible patient population.

Effect of Meswak (Middle Eastern Tree Bark) on Oral Pathogens and Potential for Probiotic Applications

Nayra Mehanna,Gregor Reid 한국식품영양과학회 2010 Journal of medicinal food Vol.13 No.3

Dental caries is a major cause of affliction in people living in the developing world. Oral hygiene is often maintained by the use of tree-based toothbrush sticks called Meswak. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Meswak along with probiotic bacteria on the growth of Streptococcus mutans, the organism most often associated with dental caries. The results indicated that Meswak has a marked inhibitory effect on the streptococci. Addition of Lactobacillus strains significantly reduced the viable counts of S. mutans. A prototype spray containing Meswak extract, lactobacilli, and mint was developed and shown to have potential as an anticaries mouthwash.

African Traditional Fermented Foods and Probiotics

Kingsley C. Anukam,Gregor Reid 한국식품영양과학회 2009 Journal of medicinal food Vol.12 No.6

African traditional fermented foods remain the main source of nutrition for many rural communities in Africa. Although lactic acid bacteria are integral to many of these foods, little is known about the specific health benefits they confer or the properties of their strains. This mini-review explores the history of some African fermented foods and their microbial content and properties within the context of probiotic characteristics. Given the recent upsurge in probiotic research, recommendations are made on studies that could be performed with African fermented foods and their strains, with a view to improving the health of people in sub-Saharan Africa.