Dysbiosis

Doctor Ilya Ilyich Mechnikov is “the father” of the Dysbiosis and probiotics theory. A Nobel Prize winner in 1908, Ilya Mechnikov, first discovered that, “numerous different associations of microorganisms that reside in the human gastrointestinal tract significantly determine the mental and physical health of the individual.” Today, 400 to 500 species of different microbes and fungi have been found living in the guts.

Eubiosis is a condition when beneficial microorganisms, such as bifidobacteria or lactic acid bacteria, live in harmony with harmful bacterial colonies, like clostridia, provided that the helpful microorganisms notably outnumber the harmful ones.

Dysbiosis (also called dysbacteriosis) is a condition where the harmful microorganisms gain the upper hand and, in the most severe cases, replace a large portion of the beneficial colonies. Dysbiosis is not always easy to diagnose, and results in health disorders, impaired stamina and endurance and depression.

A wide range of circumstances including an unbalanced diet, pollution and stress are associated with a high incidence of Dysbiosis among urban population. For the vast majority of people, persistent Dysbiosis is the norm, eubiosis is the exception.

Ilya Mechnikov proposed that ageing was mainly caused by the overgrowth of harmful gut microflora as well as chronic poisoning of the body with putrefaction products. “The longer large intestine you have, the shorter your life is!” he was known to quip.

This widely respected and admired Russian scientist suggested a simple way of supporting and increasing a healthy gut flora. According to Dr. Mechnikov, dairy foods containing a relatively high number of bifidobacteria and lactic acid bacteria in the diet would help improve the chances of eubiosis.

Through most of the twentieth century Mechnikov’s ideas provided the basic guidelines to keep Dysbiosis at bay. That is why today we have a wide variety of probiotics, i.e. foodstuffs and supplements containing the healthy gut flora necessary for healthy intestines.

So, why does Dysbiosis persist?

Although you are not aware of it, but by drinking a glass of kefir or yogurt you have just condemned all of the healthy flora it contains to certain death. That’s because this flora is initially damaged when exposed to the hydrochloric acid in the stomach and digestive enzymes in the small intestine. Once debilitated, the surviving bacteria face a harsh assault at the hand of the pathogenic flora resident large intestine.

To counteract these vulnerabilities, biotechnologists respond by incubating resistant flora in capsules, packing them with several billion bacteria each. These supplements are pricey, but highly efficient for Dysbiosis. Unfortunately, the alien flora does not always become established and soon ends up in the toilet.

Surprisingly though, it wasn’t until the end of the twentieth century, when certain food ingredients were discovered that were non-digestible in the small intestine and were able to reach large intestine successfully, where they could selectively stimulate the growth of healthy flora. These food ingredients were called prebiotics.

Prebiotics are mostly composed of carbohydrate dietary fibers (such as oligosaccharides). Inulin is the number one prebiotic. Inulin, which is mostly formed from 30 to 36 fructose molecules, is now the best known oligosaccharide.

Inulin is found in over 36,000 species of plants, normally in the roots, where it is used as a reserve power supply for germination and growth. Typical sources of inulin are artichokes, asparagus, Jerusalem artichokes, burdocks, dandelions, onions, garlic and chicory.

Inulin’s ability to increase the number of bifidobacteria, and to a smaller degree lactic acid bacteria, has been clearly demonstrated in many studies.

Oligofructose, a short-chain fragment of inulin (2 to 8 molecules of fructose), is especially efficient in stimulating bifidobacteria. Bifidobacteria practically pounce on oligofructose; fermenting it takes them no more than 5 hours. Thus, the first part of colon is the most hospitable for the healthy flora, whereas the bifidobacteria living in the last part of colon, where inflammation and cancer of the mucus membrane are the most likely, end up being deprived of oligofructose. The residing flora requires a supply of specific long chain forms of inulin (up to 60 molecules of fructose) that have 15-hour metabolizing period.

Apart from fighting Dysbiosis and related disorders, prebiotics are helpful in a number of different ways. When used regularly they may increase stool volume and frequency, which is of primary importance for the individuals susceptible to constipation; help release toxins, such as ammonia, heavy metals, radioactive nuclides, etc; prevent cancer and tumors in the large intestine; decrease the risk and severity of enteric infections. Prebiotics can also reduce the frequency and severity of traveler’s diarrhea and prevent yeast infection. Prebiotics also reduce triglyceride and homocystein blood levels, normalize lipid exchange and strengthen the immune system. In addition, prebiotics increase calcium absorption by 21% and magnesium absorption by 19%.

The constituents of prebiotics are dietary fibers not digestible for humans. They are fully fermented by bifidobacteria and lactic acid bacteria in large intestine. The efficiency of probiotic supplements rise steeply when taken together with prebiotics.