Headaches From Biogenic Amines
This is another reason why probiotics might cause headaches. Many commercially produced foods are fermented and contain high levels of biogenic amines. This is a substance that in sensitive people can cause headaches and other symptoms. Many are sensitive to amines without knowing about it.
Why are amines present in fermented food?
Amines are substances formed when certain bacteria break down amino acids in vegetables and other foods. There are great variations of amine levels in similar products from different producers which makes it hard to know what to avoid. If an individual is sensitive to amines, he or she can get headaches after consuming certain fermented foods. However, in such cases its actually not probiotics causing headaches but the amines.Effects of dietary amines on the gut PubMed Diet and Headache PubMed Biogenic amines formation PubMed Technological Factors Affecting Biogenic Amine Content in Foods PubMed
Two amines are common culprits in headaches:
Other adverse reactions to amines include:
- Stomach problems
How to avoid headaches from amines
Probiotic supplements do not contain amines. However, they can contain artificial coating, soy, wheat, gluten, and other substances that can trigger headaches.
Can Too Many Probiotics Cause Nausea
No, overdosing side effects of probiotics are rare in normal, healthy individuals. However, too many probiotics may cause nausea in histamine-intolerant or immunocompromised persons.
Also, if you are a gluten-sensitive person and your probiotics tablets contain traces of gluten, taking too many of them can lead to nausea.
Do I Need To Take Probiotics After I Take Antibiotics
Antibiotic medications are often needed to fight an infection. However, while antibiotics are killing the bad bacteria, they are also knocking out the good bacteria in your body. Some people develop conditions like diarrhea after taking an antibiotic. In other people, this may allow for really bad bacteria to take over and populate the gut, such as with C. diff. Some research has shown a positive connection between taking probiotics after an antibiotic and relief from diarrhea. This hasnt been proven yet and doesnt work for everyone.
The thought behind adding probiotics back into your body after taking an antibiotic is that it can repopulate the good bacteria that was destroyed by the antibiotics and re-boot your system. The extra good bacteria helps repopulate your gut and fight off any remaining bad bacteria. Many people feel that adding in probiotics wont hurt, might help you feel better a little faster and prevent diarrhea.
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Probiotics Use Was Associated With Lower Levels Of Morning Sickness
Though the sample size was small and the study was short in duration, the results were impressive: Probiotic intake reduced episodes of nausea by 16%, reduced the hours participants spent feeling nauseated by 16%, and reduced vomiting episodes by 33%. Constipation was also improved, and study participants reported a higher quality of life in general, noting that they had less fatigue and were better able to manage their work and social commitments.
Nausea, vomiting and constipation during pregnancy can significantly diminish the quality of patients lives. Once nausea and vomiting during pregnancy progress, they can become difficult to control, and sometimes the patient even needs to be hospitalized, says Albert T. Liu, lead author for the study and a professor of obstetrics and gynecology, in a press release.
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The researchers also analyzed fecal matter from participants both before and during the study, and found that those whose fecal matter contained lower amounts of bacteria carrying bile salt hydrolase, an enzyme that makes bile acid to help absorb nutrients in the digestive tract, had more pregnancy-related vomiting. Taking probiotics increased levels of the bacteria that produce bile salt hydrolase, which may explain the mechanism behind why the probiotics were correlated with less vomiting.
How Long Does Nausea From Probiotics Last
Most people start to feel nausea within the first few days of taking probiotics which usually lasts for a few hours. However, the length of time that nausea lasts can vary from person to person.
Some people may only feel nausea for a day or two, while others may experience nausea for a week or more. The severity of nausea can also vary, with some people only feeling mild discomfort and others feeling more severe nausea that interferes with their daily activities.
If you are experiencing nausea from probiotics, it is important to drink plenty of fluids and eat small, frequent meals. You may also want to try taking probiotics with food or at bedtime to see if that helps reduce nausea. If nausea persists for more than a week or is accompanied by other symptoms, such as vomiting or fever, it is important to see a doctor to rule out other causes.
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Take Probiotics Before Bedtime
Taking probiotics immediately before bedtime on an empty stomach may help to reduce gas and bloating. Your gut is relatively inactive at night, but probiotics can produce gas when combined with certain foods. Taking food on an empty stomach ensures that the probiotics dont have any obstacles in the way, which also allows more of the live bacteria to reach your large intestines.14
Why Are Studies On Probiotics Inconsistent
There are many factors that can affect the outcome of studies on probiotics, including:
- Study design: Many studies on probiotics are preliminary. This means they often involve a low number of participants, making it hard to determine whether the results apply to the general population. Some also do not differentiate between viral and bacterial infections or look at how probiotics are affecting the microbiome.
- Age: Childrens microbiomes are still developing, whereas adults microbiomes are more stable. This may explain why some studies find using probiotics is more beneficial for children, as the probiotics may have a bigger impact on developing microbiomes.
- Specific strains: Scientists are still learning how specific strains of bacteria and viruses affect one another. Some probiotic species may be very effective at treating certain viruses, and others may not.
- Individuality: Everyone has a unique mix of bacteria, fungi, and viruses in their digestive tract. This unique combination of species can mean each person responds differently to probiotics.
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health does not recommend using probiotics as sole treatment for a medical condition or to delay seeking medical attention, as this carries several risks.
The Food and Drug Administration only regulates some probiotics. Any probiotic that is a general dietary supplement is not FDA regulated and therefore has not undergone testing for safety or purity.
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Variables That Influence Probiotic Side Effects
There are many variables that might influence the specific probiotic side effects that you experience, as well as their respective severities. Examples of variables that could have a significant impact upon the side effects you experience from probiotic supplementation include: the specific probiotic, its dosage, administration details , as well as individual attributes . It is these variables that help explain why multiple probiotic users may report noticeably different reactions.
The Benefits Of Probiotics
There is a lot of research happening in the world of probiotics, but even so, researchers dont fully understand all of the health benefits of having healthy gut flora. The body and the symbiotic relationship that it has with the microorganisms that call it home are complicated, but there is evidence that probiotics may help alleviate or prevent several health conditions as well as boost our overall health.
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New Clues From Gut Microbes And Byproducts
Participants also contributed fecal specimens before and during the study. The samples were analyzed to identify the type and number of microbes and the different byproducts of digestion.
This allowed the researchers to examine whether biomarkers in the fecal specimens corresponded with more severe nausea and assess how the probiotics affected participants who began the study with different baseline biomarkers.
One finding was that a low amount of bacteria that carry an enzyme named bile salt hydrolase, which generates bile acid to absorb nutrients, was associated with more pregnancy-related vomiting. Probiotics increase bile salt hydrolase-producing bacteria, which may explain why the supplements decreased levels of nausea and vomiting.
Another finding was that high levels of the gut microbes Akkermansia and A. muciniphila at the beginning of the study were associated with more vomiting. The probiotic significantly reduced the amount of those particular microbes and also reduced vomiting. This suggests Akkermansia and A. muciniphila may be reliable biomarkers that can predict vomiting in pregnancy.
Another finding was that vitamin E levels increased after taking probiotics. Higher levels of vitamin E were associated with low vomiting scores.
Although the findings are intriguing, the researchers caution that due to the small sample size, further studies will be needed to confirm the effects of the probiotics.
Possible Side Effects Of Probiotics
Probiotic supplements are considered safe and well tolerated if taken as directed. Side effects of probiotics may include bloating and gas. Taking a yeast-based probiotic can sometimes cause constipation or increased thirst. Most of these side effects are mild and tend to improve once your body adapts to treatment.
Probiotics may contain allergens that can affect people with an egg or soy allergy. People with a yeast allergy would need to avoid yeast-based probiotics.
There are no documented drug interactions associated with probiotic supplements. With that said, speak with your healthcare provider before taking a probiotic if you are on antibiotics or antifungal medications. Taking these together can negatively alter your digestive or vaginal flora.
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Possible Cause Of Nausea Due To Probiotics:
- Association doesnt mean causation: co-existence of nausea while taking a probiotic. Think of other causes of nausea such as gastritis, other medications, and functional dyspepsia. the complete list of possible causes of nausea is explained here.
- Recent Intake: probiotic can cause some gut upset in the first few days of taking them. but the condition subsides after a few days or a couple of weeks .
- You are taking the wrong dose: starting with the full dose can cause probiotic side effects, it is better to start with the lowest dose and gradually increase it to avoid side effects such as gastric upset, bloating, and nausea.
- A reaction to specific probiotic strain: some probiotics may induce the secretion of histamine inside your gut leading to such effects. this is extremely rare, only some case reports .
- The poor manufacturing quality of some probiotics : the presence of some allergens can trigger nausea such as soy, lactose, GMOs, and other allergic substance . switching to a quality probiotic can be a solution for such a case.
Are Probiotics Safe For Pregnancy
While there isnt a lot of data on their usage in pregnancy, probiotics are generally considered to be safe for use in pregnancy and lactation. There is no reason they shouldnt be usedthey are going to stay in the gastrointestinal tract, not affect the baby in the uterus, says Mary Jane Minkin, MD, an OB-GYN and clinical professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at Yale University School of Medicine.
But because the research on the benefits of probiotics for use in pregnancy is limited, if you have significant nausea and vomiting, be sure to check in with your birth provider to discuss treatment options, suggests Dr. Minkin.
Probiotics may confer other benefits throughout pregnancy and birth, too, not just in the early stages. They have been shown to prevent some infections in pregnancy and prevent preterm delivery.
So before pregnancy for someone with a history of recurrent bacterial vaginosis, treating with Pro-B may well be advantageous.
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Ways To Manage Your Nausea
There are several ways to manage nausea and ease its symptoms so that you can feel much better whilst consuming your probiotics.
What Can Be Done When Treatments Dont Seem To Help
Many people with gastroparesis will respond to medical management including some dietary modification. However, medication failures or side effects are common. Many physicians have little knowledge or experience with treating gastroparesis.
Some practical things to consider when treatment does not seem to help include:
- Check the diagnosis
- Know when to consider surgery
- Be persistent and be careful
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Probiotics For Upset Stomach And Food Poisoning
Trillions of bacteria live inside us in fact, the bacteria residing in our gut are essential to good health. However, there are different types of bacteria and other micro-organisms living in our gut: some are friendly and work with body systems to keep their host healthy, these are known as probiotics. But other micro-organisms are less desirable these are known as pathogens, and can cause upset stomachs, either in the form of gastroenteritis, or on an ongoing basis such as in IBS-type symptoms.
Lets look at the different factors which can upset the delicate balance in our gut and cause an upset stomach, and how probiotics might be able to help.
Probiotics For Viral Gastroenteritis/stomach Flu
In the previous section we learnt that Saccharomyces boulardii can be used to cleanse the pathogens involved in food poisoning from the gut. However, this amazing probiotic strain has even proven to be effective against certain viruses including rotavirus3, one of the viruses often implicated in stomach flu. So it seems that whether symptoms were bought on by eating contaminated food, or simply through contact with a person suffering with a stomach virus, Saccharomyces boulardii is the best probiotic for upset stomach.
Saccharomyces boulardii
Another probiotic strain which could be of note here is Lactobacillus paracasei CASEI 431®. This strain is known for its immune-modulatory properties: one 2012 study4 showed that after just 6 weeks of intervention with this probiotic strain, study participants saw an average 37% increase in IgG production versus the placebo group, and a significant increase in sIgA over placebo. The antibody IgG protects against both viral and bacterial infections in the host.
Lactobacillus paracasei CASEI 431® has not been researched specifically for gastric flu but has been researched and shown to be help with diarrhoea in children5, and is well-documented for immune support so may be another option to consider for those who often suffer from viral upset stomachs.
Read more about Lactobacillus paracasei CASEI 431® over at The Probiotics Database.
Lactobacillus paracasei CASEI 431® is found in Optibac Immune Support.
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Go Slow On The Probiotics
Usually, the mainstay during side effects is withdrawal of the causative agent. Just reduce the dose in a tapering fashion. Reduce the frequency to which you are taking it then reduce the dose or size. This will enable you leave the probiotic without much strings attached.
To alleviate dizziness, then try do a half dose of the probiotic. This may help reduce it further.
Vivo Colostate University Phsyiology: http://www.vivo.colostate.edu/hbooks/pathphys/digestion/stomach/vomiting.html
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Can Probiotics Cause Nausea & Dizziness
Probiotics are essentially supposed to provide relief. That is why you have you chosen to take them anyway. This is not what you would expect and not what Metchnikoff expected when he first documented a connection between increased consumption of yoghurt with enhanced health and longevity. Mainstream science, health organizations and mass media acknowledges that in deed probiotics are efficient in solving some of your gastrointestinal problems.
Probiotics have been scoped and scrutinized by scientific research groups and this has made considerable advents in the relation between specific strains of bacteria and desired effects. While most researches indicate insufficient data to back the effectiveness in treatment of medical conditions, it is difficult to ignore the unwanted effects associated.
Nausea refers to that unpleasant psychic experience in humans that results in reduced gastric motility and increased tone in the small intestines. It is the first stage to the process of vomiting.
You may feel nauseated after taking probiotics and this material assures that you are not alone. Reports have been made concerning nausea within the first 3 weeks of initiating probiotic consumption. There are a variety of reasons for this including:
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What Happens When You Stop Taking Probiotics
We asked Dr. Will Bulsiewicz gastroenterologist, gut health expert, and author of Fiber Fueled to explain what happens when you stop taking probiotic supplements.
depends on your individualized response to the probiotics and what happened when you started them in the first place, Dr. Bulsiewicz said.
Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth
The small and large intestines usually contain different types of bacteria. SIBO occurs when bacteria from the large intestine start growing in the small intestine.
The large intestine predominantly contains anaerobic bacteria, which do not require oxygen and live by fermenting indigestible from plant-based foods as they pass through the gut.
Symptoms of SIBO are similar to those of IBS, including gas, bloating, and diarrhea. SIBO can also cause brain fogginess and short-term memory problems.
Not everyone with IBS has SIBO, but the overgrowth is more common in people with IBS. SIBO also frequently develops in older females.
Experts do not fully understand what causes the overgrowth, but it may result from reduced gut motility, which slows the passage of food through the gut. This can cause fermentable carbohydrates to remain in the small intestine for longer.
Results of a indicate a possible link between SIBO and probiotic supplementation in people with brain fogginess. The researchers found that symptoms improved when participants stopped taking probiotics and started taking .
Anyone with SIBO symptoms should consult a doctor.
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