Biflac
Biflac
Biflac
INTRODUCTION
The condition and function of the gastrointestinal tract is essential to our well being.
This largely depends on the maintenance of proper balance of the intestinal ecosystem.
The human intestinal microflora contributes largely in maintaining a normal balance of
the intestinal ecosystem.
The human intestinal microflora is highly important to the host for several reasons.
Firstly, microflora benefits the host by increasing resistance to colonization by
potentially pathogenic microorganisms ingested through food and water, causing
gastrointestinal disorders, as well as by protecting against the overgrowth of already
present potentially pathogenic organisms. Another function important to the host is
the high metabolic activity of the intestinal flora, helping in the digestion process in the
intestine. They also help in the synthesis of beneficial substances for the host like B
complex vitamins and vitamin K. Indeed, it is now known that the normal gut flora
plays an important role in maintaining good health by stimulating the immune system,
aiding the digestion and assimilation of food and protecting the host from invading
bacteria and viruses.
The composition of the gastrointestinal flora differs among individuals, and also
during life within the same individual. Many factors, such as diet or climate, aging,
medication (especially antibiotics), illness, stress, pH, infection geographic location,
race, socio economic circumstances, lifestyle can upset this balance12.
The gastrointestinal tract of an adult human is estimated to harbor about 100 trillion
viable bacteria. These live bacteria are known as intestinal or gut flora. Viruses, fungi
and protozoa can also be present, but these normally form only a minor component of
the total resident population of microorganisms in healthy individuals.
The density of microorganisms in the gut flora increases dramatically from 10 - 1,000
CFU/ml in the stomach to 10 - 100 billion CFU/gm in the large
intestine12 and these belong to as many as 400 different species, and anaerobic
bacteria outnumber aerobic bacteria by a factor of 1000:1. Anaerobic flora is
dominated by bacteroides spp., bifidobacteria, lactobacillus, propionibacteria and
clostridia. Among aerobic and anaerobic bacteria enterobacteria, mainly E. coli,
and enterococci predominate.
Fetuses are sterile in the womb, but beginning with the birth process, infants are
exposed to microbes that originate from the mother and the surrounding environment
including breast milk or formula14. The infant tends to acquire the flora swallowed
from the vaginal fluid at the time of delivery. Because vaginal flora and intestinal flora
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are similar, an infant's flora may closely mimic the intestinal flora of the mother .
Another factor affecting the intestinal flora of the newborn is delivery mode. A normal
vaginal delivery commonly permits transfer of bacteria from the mother to the infant.
During cesarean deliveries, this transfer is completely absent. These infants commonly
acquire and are colonized with flora from the hospital's environment and, therefore,
their flora may differ from maternal flora. Thus infants delivered by cesarean section
are colonized with more anaerobic bacteria, especially Bacteroides, than vaginally
delivered infants. Clostridium perfringens is the anaerobic bacterium most frequently
isolated after cesarean deliveries. When colonized, cesarean delivered infants less
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frequently harbor E. coli, and more often klebsiellae and enterobacteria .
The initial colonizing bacteria also vary with the food source of the infant. In breast fed
infants, Bifidobacteria account for more than 90 % of the total intestinal bacteria. The
low concentration of protein in human milk, the presence of specific anti - infective
proteins such as immunoglobulin A, lactoferrin, lysozyme, and oligosacharides
(prebiotics), as well as production of lactic acid, cause an acid milieu and are the main
reasons for its bifidogenic characteristics. In bottle - fed infants, Bifidobacteria are not
predominant17. Instead enterobacteria and gram - negative organism dominate
because of a more alkaline milieu and the absence of the prebiotic modulatory factors
present in breast milk.
Mechanisms by which the normal intestinal flora protects the host against
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intestinal disease
Bacteria of the normal gut flora produce a variety of substances that are inhibitory to
both gram - positive and gram - negative bacteria. They produce antimicrobial
compounds (bacteriocins), volatile fatty acids, organic acids, and lactic acid, which
reduces the intestinal pH. These compounds reduce the number of viable pathogenic
organisms in the gastrointestinal tract.
2. Blocking of adhesion sites
The gut microflora compete directly with gut pathogenic organisms for epithelial
attachment sites in the gastrointestinal tract, thereby preventing attachment and
colonization of the GI tract by the potentially pathogenic organisms.
The gut microflora compete directly with gut pathogenic organisms for the essential
nutrients necessary for survival and multiplication, thereby inhibiting the growth
and multiplication of potentially pathogenic organisms.
4. Stimulation of immunity
The underlying mechanisms of immune stimulation by the gut microflora are not
well understood. However, local gut immunity enhancement by the gut microflora
may be one possible mechanism of inhibiting growth of potentially pathogenic
microorganisms.
PROBIOTICS
The word probiotic is derived from the Greek meaning “for life”. A probiotic by
general definition is a “Live microbial feed supplement, which beneficially affects
the host by improving the host's intestinal microbial balance”. Probiotics are
generally mono or mixed cultures of live microorganisms which otherwise form
the major component of the gut microflora (e.g. lactobacilli, bifidobacteria).
Probiotics, when ingested, beneficially affect the host by improving the
properties of the indigenous microflora12.
a. Replenishing the depleted gut microflora, which may have occurred due
to use of antibiotics, illness, stress, travel or lifestyle changes.
b. Improving the properties of the indigenous microflora.
Probiotic bacteria are generally, though not exclusively, lactic acid bacteria and include
1. Must be of human origin and be able to inhabit the small and large
intestine
2. Exert a beneficial effect on the host by helping in proper digestion and
assimilation of nutrients and synthesis nutrients like B complex Vitamins,
and Vitamin K for the host (man)
3. Be nonpathogenic and nontoxic
4. Contain a large number of viable cells
5. Be capable of surviving (should not be killed by gastric juice and bile
acids) and metabolizing in the gut
6. Remain viable during storage and use
7. Be antagonistic to pathogens
Prebiotics are range of non-digestible dietary supplements, which modify the balance
of the intestinal micro flora, stimulating the growth and / or activity of beneficial
organisms and suppressing potentially deleterious bacteria.
To be effective, prebiotics should escape digestion in the upper gut, and reach the
large bowel, and be utilized selectively by a restricted group of microorganisms that
have been clearly identified to a health promoting properties (e.g. lactobacillus,
bifidobacteria).
The three live bacteria that act as pre and probiotic are
a. Streptococcus faecalis T-110 (lactic acid bacteria)
b. Clostridium butyricum TO-A (butyric acid bacteria)
c. Bacillius mesentericus TO-A (amylolytic bacteria)
Bacillius mesentericus TO-A are live gram-positive, aerobic, spore forming bacilli.
They proliferate actively through the symbiotic action with streptococcus faecalis T-
110. It is a spore forming bacteria and produces an amylolytic enzyme (amylase) and
protease to activate proliferation of streptococcus TO-A. It is also
responsible for production of a nutrient which helps in increasing the count of
bifidobacteria. It is found predominantly in the small intestine.
The three bacteria proliferate actively throughout the intestinal tract through
symbiosis, which is defined as the biological association of two or more
species to their mutual benefit.
The three bacteria normalize the intestinal flora, prevent colonization of the
gastrointestinal tract by potentially pathogenic organisms and help regulate
abnormal bowel movements.
Intestinal flora is normalized through its prebiotic action that helps in the
proliferation of bifidobacteria and lactobacillus.
Prevention of colonization of the gastrointestinal tract by potentially
pathogenic organisms is by lowering of intestinal pH by production of lactic
acid (by Streptococcus faecalis T-110), butyric acid and acetic acid (by
Clostridium butyricum TO-A).
Regulation of abnormal bowel movements is done by the action of short
chain fatty acids such as butyric acid and acetic acid, produced by
Clostridium butyricum TO-A, on the bowel wall.
Additionally, acetic acid and butyric acid, produced by Clostridium
butyricum, help in adjustment of water and electrolyte concentration of the
intestinal fluid and also serve as a source of nutrient for the intestinal
mucosal cells.
The three live bacteria have been shown to be resistant to the action of gastric
juice and intestinal juice including bile. They can therefore pass unaffected
Through the upper GI tract (stomach and duodenum) and
colonize in the lower GI tract (upper and small intestine and colon), when
taken orally.
It has been shown that these live bacteria help in normalizing the intestinal
flora by promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria and preventing the
growth of harmful bacteria. In cases of intestinal infection with pathogenic
bacteria, intake of these three live bacteria can lower the counts of the
pathogenic bacteria, while simultaneously increasing the count of beneficial
bacteria. This is shown by a reversal of ratio of predominant aerobic :
anaerobic bacteria to a predominant anaerobic : aerobic bacterial ratio. Here
the aerobic bacteria signify the potentially pathogenic organisms whereas,
the anaerobic bacteria signify the beneficial resident bacteria in the intestine.
What is synbiotic?
What is bacteriotherapy?
Preparations
Lactobacillus Saccharomyces
Properties Bifilac Species boulardii
BIBLIOGRAPHY