Are Probiotics Good For Gerd

Florastor Daily Probiotic Supplement For Men And

Florastor is a yeast based probiotic supplement, with the main ingredient saccharomyces boulardii lyo. The product contains lyophilized Saccharomyces boulardii, hence the name. The lyophilisation makes the yeast last longer, and less susceptible to temperature changes. The shelf life of Florastor is better in consequence.

Flostator is great to prevent stomach and intestinal problems assosiated with antibiotics. Florastor can be taken with antibiotics, maintaining efficiency, unlike bacteria based probiotic supplements.

There is also evidence that Saccharomyces boulardii is an effective probiotic against Candida. Combined with an appropriate regimen, and other…

How Do Probiotics Help With Acid Reflux

The answer is that although there is not a wealth of research on this yet, there is a growing field of thought that probiotics can indeed help alleviate acid reflux. We already know that probiotics are a highly useful way of rebalancing the gut bacteria but can they help combat H. pylori? It is thought that probiotics can help in several ways. Probiotics are thought to help strengthen the barrier against H. pylori by producing antimicrobial substances, and competes with H. pylori for adhesion receptors, i.e. space on the stomach lining! Its also thought to stabilise the gut mucosal barrier. Some argue also that the production of relatively large amounts of lactate by Lactobacilli is also an inhibitory factor of H. pylori3 as its possible it might lower the H.pylori urease. Additionally probiotics may be able to modify inflammation levels by interacting with the epithelial cells and managing the secretion of inflammatory proteins.

A meta analysis in the World Journal of Gastroenterology4 concluded that The use of probiotics plus standard therapy was associated with an increase in the H. pylori eradication rate, and a reduction in adverse events resulting from treatment in the general population.

The Best Probiotic For Ibs And Gerd: How To Choose

Choosing the best probiotic that works for both IBS and GERD is challenging. the two golden rules for choosing the best probiotic for IBS & acid reflux is to go Multi-strain and to avoid probiotic with high FODMAP constituents. 

We dug into the research and investigated different probiotic brands to find what works for IBS and Acid reflux.

Here are How to choose the best probiotic for GERD and IBS:

You May Like: How To Relieve Heartburn And Indigestion

What Specific Types Of Probiotics Will Help I With My Acid Reflux

The ability of probiotics is limitless, and they can have different effects on the body to each person, depending on their individual strain. Since there are so many forms of acid reflux, it is necessary to identify their different species and search for the kind specifically used to treat acid reflux.

There has only been a relatively recent discovery of new information about what particular probiotic strains are best used to treat reflux.

A analysis of 14 studies found a common medical advantage of probiotics is that they are helpful for acid reflux. These changes included less constipation, less heart burn, and less symptoms in the upper gastrointestinal system . ( One of the most beneficial species of probiotic for acid reflux is the Lactobacillus acidophilus.

The probiotic bacteria that I am recommending for you would be very well-tolerated, has been shown consistently to help with reflux, and has been studied more than any other probiotic organisms.

One thing to consider when you are trying a probiotic supplement is to select one that contains a high CFU count and a variety of strains.

The most efficient supplement used for probiotic purposes is the one that is contained within a potent delivery system, that ensures the probiotics are delivered safely.

Other Natural Home Remedies For H Pylori

There are some other natural, effective treatments against H Pylori infections. Dr. Carnahan, a family doctor, who is also certified in Integrative Medicine, recommends trying natural methods before using the allopathic treatments, which are effective, but come with a taxing price on the patient’s microbiota. She prescribes her patients treatments based on Zinc Carnosine and mastic gum. Other remedies are mastic gum and berberine. Here is a list with some natural remedies for H. pylori:

• Mastic gum, 350 mg, three times dailyAccording to this study, mastic gum is extremely efficient.
• Zinc-Carnosine, 75 mg, one or two times per day can be a very effective treatment.Here is the abstract of a research study on Zinc-Carnosine effect on H. Pylori
• Berberine, 250-1000 mg twice dailyBerberine is a compound found in goldenseal, and it is very effective to kill bacteria.
• Bismuth citrate

Recommended Reading: Can Prenatal Vitamins Cause Diarrhea

Our Recommended Probiotiotics For Ibs And Gerd:

Earlier in this article, we mentioned the strains that are adequately studied for IBS and GERD. However, this doesnt mean improvement is exclusive to the use of these strains.

Probiotic research is still new, and too many strains are to be tested. So, choosing multi-strain probiotics with trial and error is your best option to discover what works for your IBS and GERD. 

After more than 10 hours of researching different probiotic brands for a product containing the largest variety, here are our recommendations:

Best Probiotics For Acid Reflux Criteria

It is important to find high-quality probiotic brands for the best effectiveness because probiotics are live organisms.  Here are the criteria used for best probiotic for acid reflux:

• Certified Good Manufacturing Practices -meaning that the companies undergo voluntary third-party inspection
• Contains targeted GERD probiotic strains supported by research
• Rated at least 4.5 stars by over 100 reviewers
• Reviews discuss specific acid reflux benefits
• Soy Free, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Egg Free, Nut Free
• Shelf-stable for ease of use

Probiotics that are shelf stable make for ease of use.  In my experience, refrigerated probiotics are less likely to be consumed because they are out-of-sight-out-of-mind. 

If you are looking for a more all-encompassing probiotic, it is a good idea to get those that contain multiple beneficial probiotic strains.  After all, GERD is related to IBS and other digestive conditions that may be helped by other probiotic types. .

Just make sure it has some of the GERD-researched strains listed above as well.

For some people, it is best to start with a lower dose, or lower colony-forming unit count .  Other people do much better with a higher CFU. Because of this, I give you a range of doses and strains.  

You May Like: How To Reset Your Gut Microbiome

Probiotics Should Be Your First Call

Its important to determine the root cause of your reflux problem to address this cause. This may involve testing, as well as being aware of the types of foods that trigger your reflux symptoms.

Depending on the nature of your digestive symptoms, probiotics are an important way to help restore normal digestive function and alleviate your acid reflux.

If you are already taking an antacid, its a good idea to take a probiotic supplement alongside it to maintain your gut health and reduce the risk of destroying healthy gut bacteria.

Over time, as the probiotics work to rebalance your gut, you may find that you no longer need the antacids or PPI.

Here are a few key benefits of our probiotic:

• Time-release tablets that deliver 15 times more bacteria past stomach acid, when compared to regular probiotic capsules.
• Probiotic bacteria are released slowly over 8-10 hours.
• 12 probiotic strains chosen for their effect on gut health and immunity.
• 15 billion CFUs of probiotic bacteria.
• 60 tablets per bottle .
• Free of nuts, dairy, gluten, soy. Non-GMO and vegan. Made in the USA.

About The Supplements Touted For Heartburn Relief

OTC digestive enzymes claim they can help you break down food, just like digestive enzymes your own body makes . For example, theres

• lipase, which breaks down fats
• amylase, which breaks down carbohydrates
• proteases and peptidases, which break down proteins.

The supplement versions of these enzymes come from plants and animals. Plant sources include bromelain, derived from pineapples; papain, derived from papayas; and lactase thats obtained from purified yeasts or fungi. Animal sources include enzymes from the pancreases of pigs, cows, or lambs.

But theres no way to know whats really in supplements. The FDA does not regulate them, therefore you cant be sure what the pills are really made of or the exact amounts of enzymes they may contain. Its buyer beware, warns Dr. Kyle Staller, a gastroenterologist at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital.

You May Like: Can You Change Your Gut Microbiome

Probiotics For Gerd And Heartburn

The gut microbiome is composed of millions of microbes living in symbiosis and regulating a number of physiologic processes including gastrointestinal motility. GERD, a multifactorial gastrointestinal motility disorder, may partly result from gut microbiome dysbiosis. Manipulation of gut microbes through diet, prebiotics, probiotics and fecal transplantation is a promising therapeutic target to eliminate heartburn.

How Acid Reflux May Be Linked To Gut Dysbiosis

Bio-K+On June 28, 2019

Gastroesophageal reflux , is defined as the backflow of food or stomach acid from the stomach up into the esophagus and is a condition many of us have likely experienced once or twice over the years. In fact, up to 25% of the general population is said to suffer gastrointestinal conditions resulting in heartburn at least one time per month.1 

And while typical treatments include a wide assortment of over-the-counter acid-blocking drugs such as antacids and proton pump inhibitors , drugs of this nature have also been linked to negative side effects including gut dysbiosis as well as other more serious health conditions.2  Beyond that, frequent bouts of heartburn or acid reflux could be a signal that other health issues are occurring in the body, and even more specifically in the gut.

The Acid Reflux – Gut Dysbiosis Connection

Dysbiosis is a condition that occurs when there is an imbalance between good bacteria and bad bacteria in the gut. There are two ways acid reflux and gut dysbiosis are linked. The first is that heartburn or reflux actually might be a symptom of an unbalanced gut microbiome. In fact, this reflux could be your body trying to tell you that something bigger is happening within your body that needs to be addressed. The second link is that over-the-counter reflux medications, such as antacids and PPIs can actually cause gut microflora imbalance.

1. Can acid reflux be caused by gut dysbiosis?

1. Avoid trigger foods & drinks

Also Check: How To Optimize Gut Microbiome

Which Are The Best Probiotics For Acid Reflux

So in summary, probiotic supplements, particularly those containing strains of Lactobacillus, may well help alleviate acid reflux. However, different probiotic strains are suited to different people depending on the underlying cause.

For individuals who undergo triple therapy to treat H. pylori infection, a probiotic supplement containing the strains Lactobacillus acidophilus Rosell-52 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus Rosell-11 should be considered. In a clinical trial comparing the effects of taking triple therapy alone compared with triple therapy and a probiotic supplement of Lactobacillus acidophilus Rosell-52 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus Rosell-11, H. pylori was shown to be successfully eradicated in 72% of the triple therapy group versus 92% of the triple therapy and probiotic group after 6 weeks5. These results suggest that taking a probiotic supplement containing Lactobacillus acidophilus Rosell-52 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus Rosell-11 alongside triple therapy can improve the eradication rate of H. pylori infection which therefore can reduce the severity of acid reflux symptoms. Find out more about the research behind Lactobacillus acidophilus Rosell-52 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus Rosell-11 on the Probiotics Database. 

Lactobacillus acidophilus®

If you found this interesting, you might wish to read the following recent blog posts:

Acid Reflux And Imbalanced Gut Bacteria

Reflux symptoms are commonly perpetuated by gut dysbiosis and/or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth .

In the case of SIBO, bacteria translocate from the large intestine to the small intestine inappropriately, where they then ferment carbohydrates. 

Both the fermentation and the presence of bacteria in the small intestine can lead to several physiological changes including decreased gastric motility, prolonged relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter, and increased intraabdominal pressure. 

These terms might sound complicated, but ultimately all you need to know is that these physiological changes have been implicated in causing reflux episodes.

Don’t Miss: Can Leaky Gut Cause Weight Gain

Best Probiotics For Acid Reflux Brands

I highlighted the probiotics in the ingredients that have research to support their use for gastric acid reflux for your convenience. 

Here are a few good probiotic options that meet all of the quality criteria:

• Garden of Life Dr. Formulated Probiotics Platinum Series Immune+90 Billion CFU Guaranteed, formulated by Dr. Perlmutter. Contains the key probiotics lactobacillus gasseri, lactobacillus rhamnosus, bifidobacterium bifidum, bifidobacterium lactis, and 12 other beneficial strains.  This is the highest-rated probiotic on the market and the most concentrated.  

• Hyperbiotics PRO-15 Probioticswith 15 strains of probiotics and 15 billion CFU, contains 5 of the 8 researched strains for relieving acid reflux.  Contains 60  time-release pearls with Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium infantis, Bifidobacterium longum, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Bifidobacterium lactis, Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus salivarius, Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus gasseri, Bifidobacterium bifidum, and Streptococcus thermophilus.

• NewRhythm Probiotics 50 Billion CFUs and 20 Strains, with 60 vegetarian capsules per bottle, contains Lactobacillus acidophilus, L. rhamnosus, L. crispatus, L. reuteri, L. casei, L. salivarius, L. gasseri, B. lactis, Pediococcus pentasaceus, B. breve, B. adolescentis, B. infantis, B. longum, L. lactis, Pedicoccus acidilactici, S. thermophiles. Also contains a prebiotic fiber blend. 

Histamine-free probiotic for reflux

Could Probiotics Help With Acid Reflux

Acid reflux is a common western health issue. Drinking antacid out of the bottle isn’t an entirely unusual sight! This can indeed give temporary relief but doesn’t always solve the cause of this problem. So what can help with acid reflux? Probiotics seem to be becoming a popular approach in the fight against acid reflux. But why would probiotics help with this problem, known otherwise as heartburn?

Also Check: How Long Can An Ibs Flare Last

What Are The Causes Of Acid Reflux

There are many causes of acid reflux, however, the most common are:

• Hiatal hernia
• Microbial infection,
• Obesity

Hiatal hernia is a very common cause of GERD, and it is a condition where the stomach bulges up into the chest cavity, outside of the diaphragm, where it is its normal position.

Helicobacter Pylori is clearly associated with GERD, but the mechanism is not fully understood yet. There is, however, ample evidence that an eradication of H. Pylori is not beneficial for the overall health of an individual. As a result, antibiotics are not the proper treatment, although along with PPI are the most commonly prescribed treatment. The most recent theories, based on scientific evidence, propose the idea that an overgrowth of the H. pylori population will lower the acidity in your stomach, . Low acid levels in your stomach will result in understimulation of the pancreas, which will release less enzymes into the small intestine. With less enzymes produced, some of the carbohydrates will remain undigested, and they will become food for microorganisms. This will result in an overgrowth of microbe in your small intestine, where they shouldn’t be. The excess bacteria, fed by incompletely digested carbs, will produce a lot of gas, which will increase the intra-abdominal pressure. The additional pressure will cause the lower esophageal sphincter to open up, allowing the acid to escape in the esophagus. Here is a a study to find out if there was any correlation between IBS and GERD.

Acid Reflux Home Remedies

Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Acid reflux is one of the most common health problems, affecting around 10 to 20 percent of the population. What makes it hard to treat is that it can be caused by various underlying issues. Although the symptoms are the same, the cause can be totally different, and consequently the treatment should be different. What makes things even worse is that too many times the treatment is very generic, aiming to lower the symptoms, and not treat the cause.

Also Check: Does Ibs Come And Go

Small Changes In Product Size & Weight Lead To Lower Carbon Emissions

We created Compact by Design to identify products that, while they may not always look very different, have a more efficient design. With the removal of excess air and water, products require less packaging and become more efficient to ship. At scale, these small differences in product size and weight lead to significant carbon emission reductions.

Digestive Enzyme Supplements For Heartburn

• By Heidi Godman, Executive Editor, Harvard Health Letter

My love affair with spicy food came to a sad end a few years ago. Age and Im guessing too many jalapenos have left me prone to heartburn if I eat meals with a fiery flare. My doctor says theres no underlying condition causing the problem, and advises me to avoid the foods that seem to trigger symptoms. But thats tricky sometimes.

So I was particularly interested when a friend suggested that an over-the-counter digestive enzyme supplement might help. I learned pretty quickly that there are lots of ads for the pills and powders. Its a booming business, with sales for OTC digestive enzymes of all kinds expected to reach $1.6 billion by 2025.

Read Also: Does Peanut Butter Cause Heartburn

Best Probiotics For Acid Reflux: A Quick Overview

Dont have time to read the whole post? Here are the top recommended probiotic brands for acid reflux:

• Garden of Life Dr. Formulated Probiotics Platinum Series Immune+ 90 billion CFUs of strains that may benefit gut health, including acid reflux, including Lactobacillus gasseri. Formulated by Dr. Perlmutter.
• Hyperbiotics PRO-15 Probiotics 15 strains and15 billion CFUs with Lactobacillus gasseri.
• NOW Supplements, Clinical GI Probiotic strain verified Bifidobacterium lactis HN019 with 20 billion CFUs
• NewRhythm Probiotics time-release with 20 strains and 20 billion CFUs, features Lactobacillus gasseri.
• DrFormulas Nexabiotic contains 5 of the 8 researched strains for acid reflux and 17.25 billion CFUs.
• Lifted Naturals Probiotics best for people with histamine intolerance, contains 30 billion CFUs.
• BioGaia Protectis Probiotics Drops best for babies and small children.

The 7 Best Supplements For Gerd Sufferers

In previous installments of this series on GERD weve discussed the many downsides of acid-blocking medications and why just treating acidity doesnt get to the root cause of reflux symptoms.

Weve also tackled the question of how diet impacts GERD, and shared protocols for tapering off PPI medications like Prilosec, Nexium and Protonix.

Now lets take a deep-dive on the science that substantiates the use of certain supplements to help patients break their harmful dependency on acid-blockers.

1) DGL: DGL is one of my favorite remedies for GERD, ulcers, and gastritis. While DGL has not been formally studied for GERD, studies in the 1980s demonstrated its curative effects in gastritis.

Why DGL and not ordinary licorice? While licorice has demonstrable anti-inflammatory effects, it contains a substance, glycyrrhizinic acid, which can cause pseudoaldosteronism. This is a condition where the body retains sodium, loses potassium, and accumulates fluid volume, sometimes resulting in water weight gain and hypertension.

With the advent of deglycyrrhizinated licorice, the anti-inflammatory properties of the herb are retained without risk of pseudoaldosteronism.

The mistake that some people make when taking DGL lozenges is that they fit them in just a couple of times per day between meals. Thats not enough. I find that DGL works best when chewed 6-8 times per day at least ½ hour before, or 2 hours after meals.

The suggested dose of melatonin for GERD is 3-6 mg at bedtime.

Recommended Reading: Does Colostrum Heal Leaky Gut

Best Probiotic Strains For Ibs:

The probiotic strains that work for IBS are summarized in this table.

Other Lesser Known Ppi Side Effects

PPIs interfere with the absorption of calcium, iron, zinc, and chromium to name a few. This means that you arent getting nutrients very well from the food you eat.

Stomach acid is  also required for proper protein digestion as well.  Think about it. You are trying to block acid, but the blocking of acid causes indigestion.  Yikes.

Don’t Miss: How Is The Microbiome Of The Gut Determined

Heartburn Drugs Reduce Vitamin B12

What happens if you take a proton pump inhibitor or PPI? This medicine blocks acid production in the stomach.  Seems pretty benign, right?

Heres the story you dont hear.  By blocking acid, they also block the absorption of vitamin B12. Stomach acid is key to freeing or liberating B12 for absorption too.

There are many other nutrients that may suffer, too, like calcium, iron, and zinc.

Your healthy probiotics also get disrupted by the acid-blocking medications.

How Do Probiotics Help Acid Reflux

14 clinical studies have evaluated the effects of probiotics on acid reflux and 79 percent of these studies concluded that probiotics may be a beneficial add-on for people who suffer from heartburn and reflux symptoms. 

Both single-strain probiotics and multi-strain probiotics seem to be helpful for acid reflux and functional dyspepsia according to research. 

Also Check: Does Baking Soda Help Heartburn

Probiotic Brand For Acid Reflux In Babies And Children

GERD-related symptoms in babies include colic and belly pain. New research shows that a probiotic strain called Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 helps reduce both of these daunting symptoms. 

BioGaia Protectis Probiotics Drops for Baby, Infants, Newborn and Kids Colic, Spit-Up, Constipation, and Digestive Comfort, 5 ML, contains Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938. 

New Review Investigates The Role Of Probiotics In Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Gastrointestinal reflux disease is a common digestive disorder characterized by chronic symptoms resulting from abnormal reflux of contents from the stomach into the esophagus, leading to mucosal damage. The underlying cause of GERD is multifactorial and can result from stress, poor diet, impaired digestion, dysbiosis, hiatal hernia, and esophageal sphincter dysfunction. Risk factors associated with GERD include smoking, alcohol, and NSAID use.

Previously, I had shared research demonstrating that the damage of the esophagus in GERD was shown to be cytokine-mediated due to inflammation and not caused directly by the acid in the stomach. 

Pharmaceutical interventions may provide symptom management but they do not correct many of the underlying factors and often have side effects. Lifestyle changes and nutritional support are usually sufficient to address acid reflux. Patients should consider eating smaller portions at meals. In addition, they should avoid laying down after meals and avoid eating too close to bedtime. Also, alcohol and certain foods can trigger symptoms.

While proton pump inhibitors may help with the symptoms, they may not be the solution. Recent previous studies have linked PPIs to chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular disease and an increase risk of a heart attack. PPIs can also lead to other problems such as dysbiosis and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth .

Read Also: How To Relieve Bloating Pain

Last Word About Acid Reflux And Probiotics

If you are suffering from a sort of heartburn, you may be able to try just about any home remedies for some relief. Whether the treatment of reflux disease is made possible, reliable, or successful for adherents depends on in-depth verification of the potential causes, consequences, and countermeasures.

Probiotics should be the first line of defence.

To discover the root cause of your reflux problem you need to evaluate the root cause of it. In order to regulate this, you will need to learn what foods cause your reflux symptoms, as well as to watch how you eat.

Although it may not be able to exactly replace all that digestive disorders and acid reflux can cause, probiotics are one essential aid in insuring that your bodys digestive system continues to work correctly.

If you are already taking antacids to treating the acid in your stomach, its a good idea to take a probiotic supplement alongside it to maintain your gut health and reduce the chance of killing healthy gut bacteria.

The bacteria appears to be released much faster from these capsules, which makes them successful even when taken apart from meals.

Probiotic bacteria are released into the stomach over 8-10 hours.

12 strains of probiotics were selected to have the ability to enhance gut health and immunity.

Higher than 15 billion CFUs of probiotic bacteria.

to make 60 tablets per bottle .

Remove all nuts, eggs, gluten, and soy. This is non-GMO and vegan. Built in the United States.