Balancing The Intestinal Ecosystem
Although the vast majority of existing clinical trials indicate that probiotic doses of 10-20 billion CFU per day are sufficient for maintaining immune and digestive health, research studies examining the dose-response of larger CFUs and products featuring CFUs of 50 to 100 billion are becoming increasingly common.6,7 While it may be tempting to assume that a larger CFU automatically translates to greater probiotic benefits, this is not necessarily the case for every individual or health indication.8,9
One of the mechanisms of probiotic therapy is restoration of intestinal balance by replacing harmful microbes with more favorable ones. Because not everyone needs very large amounts of probiotic bacteria to achieve this, regularly providing the body with a moderate infusion of high-quality bacteria may represent a more biologically meaningful approach to health maintenance than overwhelming the gut microbiota ecosystem with more bacteria than is needed.
Thus, for individuals in relatively good health, a daily dose of 10-20 billion CFU is likely sufficient for supporting everyday immune and digestive support.
What Happens If You Take Probiotics And Antibiotics At The Same Time
Research shows that probiotics and antibiotics taken together can reduce the risk of side effects, like diarrhoea. They even help to restore some of the healthy gut microbes lost through antibiotic therapy. Strains of Lactobacillus and Saccharomyces can help mitigate antibiotic side effects.
Choose A Quality Probiotic Formula
Quality assurance practices do matter. Probiotic manufacturing is not highly regulated and some label claims do not stand up to scrutiny. Consider the results of these investigations into probiotic quality:
- One study assessed 26 commercial probiotics and found that none fully supported label claims. Some probiotic supplements contained unacceptable microorganisms .
- The same study found two common problems in probiotic supplements: low concentration of viable cells and the presence of undesired organisms .
- Another study found only half of the probiotics examined had the specific strain listed on the label .
- 43% of the probiotics in another study contained less than half the amount of probiotics listed on their labels .
If a company follows quality assurance practices, a probiotic supplement will meet its label claims and not contain potentially harmful organisms.
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What Are The Potential Benefits Of Taking Probiotics With Antibiotics
Different strains of probiotics can have different effects on the body. It may be beneficial to take certain probiotic strains when taking a prescribed antibiotic. Diarrhea can be a side effect for people taking an antibiotic. For some people, taking probiotics at the same time may help to reduce the risk or lessen the severity of diarrhea from antibiotics. One of the most serious causes of antibiotic-associated diarrhea is infection with a bacterium, Clostridium difficile . Certain probiotics may also help reduce the risk of getting a C. diff. infection.
When Should You Take Probiotics With Antibiotics
Taking antibiotics gradually decreases the natural friendly bacteria gut which can result in less-than-ideal digestive issues, like not fully breaking down waste.
This can cause you to have diarrhea, indigestion, abdominal pain and cause a rapid decline in energy levels. The goal is to maintain a healthy gut microbiome, where many trillions of bacteria live peacefully with each other.
Studies have shown that taking probiotics at the same time while youre taking antibiotics can act as a counterbalance in the gut microbiome. Probiotics increase the beneficial bacteria and lessen the side effects of taking antibiotics.
Many pharmacists are already recommending people to take it together or eat more foods that replenish the good bacteria if they have been prescribed antibiotics.
Taking probiotics wont ruin the efficacy of your antibiotics, however you might want to make sure that your probiotics are suited to do the job.
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What Studies Support Giving Probiotics With Antibiotics
A Cochrane review of 23 studies investigated giving probiotics containing either one or a combination of the following: Bacillus spp., Bifidobacterium spp., Clostridium butyricum, Lactobacilli spp., Lactococcus spp., Leuconostoc cremoris, Saccharomyces spp., or Streptococcus sp.
Results from 22/23 trials that reported on the incidence of antibiotic-associated diarrhea show a significant benefit from probiotics compared to active, placebo, or no treatment control . None of the 16 trials that reported on side events documented any serious side events attributable to probiotics with the most common ones being rash, nausea, gas, flatulence, abdominal bloating, abdominal pain, vomiting, increased phlegm, chest pain, constipation, taste disturbance, and low appetite. The authors concluded that there was a protective effect of probiotics for preventing antibiotic-associated diarrhea. The relative risk was 0.46 and the NNT was 10.
The authors considered Lactobacillus rhamnosus or Saccharomyces boulardii at 5 to 40 billion colony forming units/day to be the most appropriate choice. They also commented that although no serious adverse events were observed among the otherwise healthy children in these trials, serious adverse events have been observed in severely debilitated or immuno-compromised children with underlying risk factors , and advised that probiotics should be avoided in pediatric populations at risk for adverse events until further research has been conducted.
Why You Should Take Probiotics With Antibiotics
Antibiotics play a critical role in killing bad bacteria. But as they destroy infections, they can also cause collateral damage to the good bacteria in your gut, which could result in diarrhea for a couple of daysor even weeksafter you stop taking the medicine.
So how can you get the benefits of antibiotics without the nasty stomach side effects? The answer might be found in probioticspills or even powders with live microorganisms that offer health benefits.
Your intestines contain around 1,000 different species of bacteria, with 100 trillion bacteria in total, says Dr. Lawrence Hoberman, president and chief executive of Medical Care Innovations Inc. If 80% of that bacteria is the good, healthy kind, the harmful bacteria stay at bay. But antibiotics change the balance in the microbiome, which may result in an increase in the harmful bacteria, he explained.
The immune system recognizes the bad guys and will try to destroy them. But in the process, it breaks down the intestinal lining and causes inflammation, and thats how we get antibiotic-associated diarrhea, Dr. Hoberman explains.
One study found that antibiotic-associated diarrhea affects between 5% and 39% of patients, depending on which antibiotic they take. But research shows that probiotics can curb digestion problems. A meta-analysis of 34 other studies found that probiotics reduce instances of antibiotic-associated diarrhea by 52%.
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Can You Take Probiotics Every Day
A common question about probiotics is whether it is ok to take probiotic supplements every day. Whilst there may be a few exceptions to this rule, the general answer is yes, it’s safe, and usually recommended, to take them daily. It’s important to understand that probiotics are a natural supplement and not a medicine.
Here Are My Top Tips To Increase Probiotics In Order To Heal Your Gut
- Consume at least 100 g/mL per day of fermented foods. It is even better if you consume two different types of probiotic food a day.
- If you buy a probiotic supplement, look for one that contains at least 109 CFU per capsule and take it in the morning with an empty stomach.
- Incorporate raw fermented foods too. Heating may kill bacteria found in these foods.20
- Eat prebiotics. These are very important to keep your good gut bacteria alive. A post with more detail information will come soon!
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Can I Take Any Probiotic
If youre into health, beauty and wellnessa probiotic or probiotic supplement such as The Beauty Chefs GLOW Inner Beauty Essential may already be part of your daily routine. So if this is you, then certainly dont let a bout of illness or a dose of antibiotics set you off course! Simply remember to time your probiotic correctly and continue on as usual. But if youre new to the world of probiotics, then its important to consider your options as you want to consume a wide variety of species and strains.
While arguably taking any probiotic while on antibiotics will boast benefits for your microbial healthat The Beauty Chef, we recommend our wholefood-based probiotic inner beauty powders and elixirs as unlike many over the counter supplements, our products are 100 percent natural and offer multiple, food-based strains. This means your body receives a broad-spectrum of healthy bacteria, which promotes microbial diversity and boosts overall digestive health. Our lacto-fermented formulas also contain prebioticswhich are arguably just as important for gut healthhelping to feed the beneficial bacteria in your gut and encourage their proliferation. Due to our exclusive bio-fermentation process, Flora Culture, our formulas are also more potent and bioavailable, meaning the nutrients they contain are more easily absorbed and assimilated by the body.
Can You Take Probiotics On An Empty Stomach
Some probiotic manufacturers recommend taking the supplement on an empty stomach, while others advise taking it with food. Though its difficult to measure bacteria viability in humans, some research suggests that Saccharomyces boulardii microorganisms survive in equal numbers with or without a meal .
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Should You Take Probiotics With Antibiotics
Sometimes health can take a different turn, and taking antibiotics becomes inevitable. This might be of concern, especially on the well-being of your gut. So you may ask, should you take probiotics with antibiotics.
Antibiotics are usually associated with side effects, including diarrhea, bloating, gas, yeast infections, and in some cases, headaches.
Most of these effects are due to the disruption that occurs in the gut flora. So taking care of your gut while taking antibiotics is essential, and taking probiotics can help you achieve it.
So yes, its good to take probiotics with antibiotics, and this article explains further, including the best timing to ensure maximum benefits.
Which Are The Best Probiotics To Take Alongside Antibiotics
A question we often get asked is, which are the best probiotics with antibiotics, in terms of the associated diarrhoea? As seen above, it seems that this is the main area of concern when taking this type of medication.
Its important to select strains of probiotics that have been tested in clinical trials and have been shown to reach the gut alive when taken alongside antibiotics. The more friendly bacteria present in the gut, the lower the chance of developing digestive issues like diarrhoea. Three strains of probiotics in particular, Lactobacillus acidophilus Rosell-52, Lactobacillus rhamnosus Rosell-11 and Bifidobacterium lactis Lafti B94 have been shown to do this. They can safely be taken at exactly the same time as antibiotic medication. The recommended use for a supplement containing this probiotic combination is as follows:
- Take one capsule daily with breakfast, even with your antibiotic medication.
- Take daily until the antibiotic course is finished, and preferably for one week after.
- Continue until the pack is completed and add a second pack if the antibiotic treatment lasts more than one week.
In clinical trials involving those undergoing antibiotic treatment for Helicobacter pylori infection, participants were given Lactobacillus acidophilus Rosell-52, Lactobacillus rhamnosus Rosell-11 and Bifidobacterium lactis Lafti B94 alongside antibiotics all three strains were proven to survive alongside the medication11,12.
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Probiotics Reduce Antibiotic Side Effects
When you have been on antibiotics before, did you have adverse effects such as diarrhea, yeast infections, or gastrointestinal pain?
Antibiotics work by killing harmful bacteria that cause infections. Most antibiotics are broad-spectrum, meaning they kill a lot of different types of bugs. This broad action makes them useful for a lot of different types of infections, and its also why they can end up killing good bacteria too.
Antibiotic side effects are often caused by the loss of beneficial bacteria and resulting dysbiosis [6
Antibiotic side effects can be long-lasting, especially with repeated antibiotic treatments. Probiotics can be very helpful in restoring the healthy balance of gut bacteria. A large number of studies back this up.
Lets look at a few examples:
How Do Antibiotics Influence The Gut
In ancient days, bacteria were only viewed as disease-causing microorganisms, which led to the invention of antibiotics.
Yes, they saved millions of lives, but something else was going unnoticed: The good gut bacteria plus their amazing health benefits and the damage each antibiotic prescription was causing.
But with many different studies today, the medical community is now aware of the harmful effects of antibiotics on gut flora.
Your gut environment consists of a trillion bacteria, fungi, and yeast, all commonly referred to as the microbiome. While some of these organisms can be harmful, others are extremely beneficial to your digestive health, immune system, mental health, and heart health.
But consuming antibiotics kill both the good and bad bacteria. This leads to a disruption in normal gut function, breaking the protective gut barrier and leaving you susceptible to infections.
In extreme cases, you might end up with Candida overgrowth, irritable bowel syndrome, acne, malabsorption, depression, anxiety, brain fog, and autoimmune diseases. But you dont have to wait for your body to reach this breaking point.
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Pros And Cons Of Probiotics
The assumption that there is little downside to taking probiotics was challenged in a recent Israeli study.
The participants were given antibiotics and split into two groups: the first group was given an 11-strain probiotic preparation for four weeks the second was given a placebo, or dummy pill.
The researchers found the antibiotic damage to the gut bacteria of those in the first group allowed the probiotic strains to effectively colonise the gut. But this colonisation delayed the normal recovery of the microbiota, which remained perturbed for the entire six month study period.
In contrast, the microbiota of the second group returned to normal within three weeks of finishing antibiotics.
This research exposes a perhaps unexpected truth: we still dont know what types of bacteria are truly beneficial or even what constitutes a healthy microbiome.
The answer is unlikely to be that individual bacterial strains are particularly helpful.
Its more likely a diverse community of thousands of different types of microbes working together can provide health benefits. This microbial community is as individual as each one of us, meaning there is not just one configuration that will result in health or illness.
So, its unlikely that the addition of one or even 11 strains of bacteria in a probiotic could somehow balance this complex system.
The Best Probiotics To Take After Antibiotics
Your doctor might recommend continuing a specific probiotic for a certain period of time, so its always best to check in with your trusted health advisor.
Just as we support daily probiotic supplements, we encourage everyone to explore what probiotic support is best for them. Daily probiotic intake may support the proper regulation of your digestive system, and may also provide immune function support as well.
We have a whole line of incredible probiotic formulas, some with scientifically validated ingredients for additional targeted support. If youre looking to add a broad-spectrum probiotic to your daily diet, check out our Daily Care Probiotic and Womens Probiotic.
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Whens The Best Time Of Day To Take Probiotics
Certain probiotics have specific recommendations for when they should be taken. Be sure to read the instructions before taking a new supplement. Because of the varying types of probiotic strains that have different effects, and the best time of day to take probiotics depends on the strain and formulation.
Some probiotics outline that they should be taken on an empty stomach, whereas others should be taken with a meal.
Some medications may adversely interact with probiotics, so you may need to take medicine and probiotic supplements separately. Since daily use of probiotics has been shown to be safe and effective for many health benefits, choosing a time of day when you will remember to take your probiotic supplement is the best way to ensure consistency.
Timing The Dosing Of Your Probiotics
When I have a client on an antibiotic regimen, I typically suggest that to minimize the killing of the probiotic species, to take the antibiotics and the probiotics at least five hours apart. I have found that clinically to work well*. Unfortunately, there is very little research on this unique issue.
However, research does illustrate that starting probiotics at the start of an antibiotic regimen vs. waiting until later does minimize potential adverse side effects from the antibiotic regimen*. The time of day is not typically a big issue, but youll want to keep in mind what times your antibiotic will be dosed as that will dictate the times you can optimally take your probiotic!
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How Do Antibiotics Work
Antibiotics work by either directly killing bacteria or preventing them from replicating or reproducing, thus dwindling bacteria numbers over time.
Antibiotic drugs only kill off bacterial infections in the body, which means that they arent useful for illnesses like the common cold or the flu, for example, because these are viral illnesses.
Knowing The Answer Can Protect Your Gut
You may have wondered whether or not you should take probiotics after antibiotics. Perhaps youve read about this strategy or maybe your doctor recommended it. Either way, do you really know everything about the supplements youre taking? Should you even take them in supplement form, or is food better? Read on to learn more about probiotics and antibiotics.
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How Is Bowtrol Different From Other Probiotic Products
These are the reasons to select Bowtrol Probiotic among other options:
- Restore your digestive health in just 10-14 days!
- The largest concentration of CFUs.
- One capsule has 10 times more probiotics than in a gallon of yogurt.
- Identical constituents verified for effectiveness in 90% of research and studies done with probiotics.
- Bowtrol has the potent strain DDS-1 and Bifidobacterium, 2. They are super strains that are 10 times more powerful than other probiotics altogether.
- Each batch of Bowtrol probiotics gets tested for potency by a 3rd party laboratory.
- 100% Natural and Vegetarian.
- Supports the immune system.