Enteric-coated probiotic with extensive amounts of beneficial bacteria
PROS<br /><br />1. It contains 50 billion CFU in the form of a Lactobacillus blend with 9 different strains and a Bifidobacterium blend with 6 different strains. CFU stands for colony forming units. It is a scientific term of measurement of viable probiotic cells. As a general rule, 1 billion CFUs is the minimum dose a probiotic supplement should contain because the recommended daily dose for both children and adults is between 1-10 billion CFUs. The manufacturer’s recommended dose of 1 capsule per day (making 30 capsules a one-month supply) for this supplement is well above that recommended range for a daily dose.<br />2. Vegan, with no gelatin.<br />3. Easy to swallow.<br />4. It contains an enteric coating (hypromellose) which allows the probiotic bacteria to reach the colon alive (see below).<br />5. It contains guar (AKA guar gum) as a prebiotic in order to enhance the effectiveness of the beneficial bacteria.<br /><br />CONS<br /><br />1. The manufacturer is a multinational corporation, so their ingredients and manufacturing sites are all over the world, including China.<br />2. This supplement is quite expensive.<br /><br />INFORMATION ON INGREDIENTS OTHER THAN PROBIOTICS<br /><br />Other Ingredients: Vegetarian capsule (hypromellose, gellan gum), microcrystalline cellulose, stearic acid, silicon dioxide, guar.<br /><br />Gellan Gum. This is a plant-based, vegan, thickening agent which occurs in nature growing on water lilies. It is typically used in nondairy products and sometimes in vegan dietary capsules. It also has the potential to protect products from temperature change.<br /><br />Guar Gum. This is a white powder produced from the seeds of the guar bean plant which is grown primarily in Australia and India, and to a lesser degree in Africa, China and the US. The food industry uses guar gum to bind, thicken, suspend and stabilize ingredients in foods and beverages. It is also used as a binding agent in supplements and medications, and as a thickening agent in cosmetics. Guar gum is a fiber that normalizes bowel function. It reduces cholesterol and aids in controlling blood sugar by decreasing the amount of cholesterol and glucose absorbed by the body within the stomach and intestines. Guar gum is sometimes recommended by weight loss experts because, like most plant fiber, it absorbs moisture and expands in the stomach and intestines, causing a sense of fullness that may decrease appetite. On the negative side, it may cause abdominal bloating and gas in susceptible individuals.<br /><br />Hypromellose AKA Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose AKA HPMC. This substance has a principle use in the pharmaceutical and nutritional-supplement industries as an enteric coating, that is, a controlled-delivery component which consists of an outer protective shell formed of a material that does not dissolve in stomach acid. This is a semisynthetic, stable, unreactive, elastic, thick, sticky polymer. Note that polymers are of three types, natural, synthetic and semisynthetic. Natural polymers occur in nature, and synthetic polymers are created by chemical reaction. A semisynthetic polymer is made by chemically treating a natural polymer. Examples of natural polymers include: cellulose, keratin, collagen, wool, rubber, silk and starch. Examples of synthetic polymers include: Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polystyrene, polyethylene, neoprene, and nylon. Some primary uses of synthetic polymers is to make plastics, adhesives, and paints. An example of a semisynthetic polymer, besides hypromellose, is cellulose acetate. Cellulose is chemically modified by processing it with acetic anhydride, which converts the cellulose to cellulose acetate. The latter is more easily processed, by further chemical reactions, into fibers, films and tapes. Hypromellose polymer is prepared, similar to cellulose acetate, by chemically altering naturally occurring cellulose. It is first processed with an alkali (a water-based solution with a pH value higher than 7). Next it is reacted with methyl chloride and finally with propylene oxide. Methyl chloride is a colorless, flammable, toxic gas that is used commercially, besides in the production of polymers, as a refrigerant, as a local anesthetic, as an extractant for oils and resins, and as a solvent in butyl rubber, among other uses. Propylene oxide is an extremely volatile and flammable, colorless, highly reactive liquid. In a gaseous state, it is toxic when inhaled. Its main commercial derivatives include polyether polyols, propylene glycol, and polyether polyols, compounds which are used to create polyurethane foam, fiber glass, coolants, and antifreeze. They are also commonly used in the cosmetic industry to derive compounds which serve as solvents, carriers, humectants and preservatives.<br /><br />Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC). This is a type of refined wood pulp which is frequently used in processed food and supplements as an anti-caking flow agent. It is also used in food products as a texturizer, emulsifier, extender, bulking agent, and fat substitute. According to the Select Committee on GRAS Substances, microcrystalline cellulose is generally regarded as safe.<br /><br />Silicon Dioxide AKA Silicone Dioxide AKA Silica Dioxide AKA Silicon Dioxide AKA Silica. This is a common additive used primarily in powdered foods and powdered pharmaceuticals and supplement as a flow agent, meaning it makes powders flow better without caking. Silicone dioxide is also an important nutrient in the diet and can be taken as a supplement. Silica improves the health of bones, nails, skin and hair, and it may also help prevent arthritis and osteoporosis and Alzheimer's. It is also beneficial to the arteries and helps the body maintain a healthy level of blood pressure. Research indicates it helps the skin form collagen, the lowered production of which contributes to wrinkling of the skin as we age. Silica is found naturally in grains such as oats and barley, in nuts, legumes, fruits, root vegetables and green leafy vegetables.<br /><br />Stearic Acid. This is a fatty acid which occurs naturally in many animal and vegetable fats. It is most abundant in cocoa butter and shea butter. It is commercially removed from these animal or vegetable oils by using water heated above 200 degrees Celsius (392 degrees Fahrenheit) in order to produce hydrolysis (breaking apart) of the triglycerides that make up the fat. Afterwards this mixture is distilled. If the manufacturer does not specify that it is from a vegan source, it may not be. In supplements and pharmaceuticals, as well as lotions, soaps, shampoos and detergents, it is typically used as an emulsifier, dispersant, and lubricant.<br /><br />EXPLANATION OF FLOW AGENT<br /><br />This is a common additive used in powdered foods and powdered pharmaceuticals and supplements to make the powder flow better by preventing caking. This is important because it ensures a consistently homogenous mixture. It also prevents powdered therapeutic ingredients from clinging to encapsulating equipment in a manufacturing facility. Both of these things help to maintain quality control, such that the amount of the advertised active ingredients of the drug or nutraceutical is the same from capsule to capsule. Flow agents are also used in many different packaged foods as a texturizer, a fat substitute, an emulsifier, an extender, and a bulking agent. There are two flow agents included in this product: microcrystalline cellulose and silicon dioxide<br /><br />EXPLANATION OF ENTERIC COATING<br /><br />The term "enteric" means "of or relating to the small intestine." A pharmaceutical or supplement which is enteric coated has a controlled-delivery component which consists of an outer protective shell formed of a material that does not dissolve in stomach acid. It breaks down in the less acidic environment of the small intestine or inside the colon. Many medications and supplements lose their potency or are outright destroyed (particularly probiotics) by stomach acid. Pharmaceuticals which are enteric coated are usually identifiable by the two letters EN or EC at the end of their name on the product label. Materials used for enteric coatings include fatty acids, waxes, shellac, resins, plastics, and plant fibers.<br /><br />If you see any of the following listed in the ingredients for a probiotic, it means this supplement has an enteric coating:<br /><br />Cellulose acetate phthalate (CAP) AKA cellacefate (INN) AKA cellulosi acetas phthalas<br />Cellulose acetate succinate (CAS)<br />Cellulose acetate trimellitate<br />Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose acetate succinate AKA hypromellose acetate succinate)<br />Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose phthalate<br />Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose phthalate<br />Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC)<br />Hypromellose AKA hydroxypropyl methylcellulose AKA HPMC<br />Methyl acrylate-methacrylic acid copolymers<br />Polyvinyl acetate phthalate (PVAP).<br />Shellac<br /><br />ALTERNATIVES TO EXPENSIVE PROBIOTICS LIKE THIS ONE<br /><br />Hundreds of scientific studies have revealed that the two most powerful ways one can enhance the beneficial bacteria in the colon are the following: (1) Avoid taking antibiotics unless your doctor has confirmed you actually have a bacterial infection—they do not work on viruses. Antibiotics kill off the beneficial flora in the colon. (2) Avoid animal products and become a vegan, or at the very least a vegetarian. Animal products, especially red meat, have a well documented toxic effect on the colon, in particular, increasing the risk of colon cancer. In addition, non-organic meat products are laced with antibiotics. In contrast, a diet filled with an abundance of high-fiber fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes has an extremely healthy impact on the colon.<br /><br />The purpose of taking probiotics—and avoiding antibiotics and consuming a vegan diet—is to promote the healthy functioning of beneficial bacteria within the colon, which are collectively called the “microbiome” or “microbiota” or “microflora.” The microflora in the colon have a primary task of fermentation, which is the enzymatic decomposition and utilization of carbohydrates, particularly dietary fiber. During the process of fermenting fiber, these microflora release short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), such as acetate, propionate, and butyrate, and also bacteriocins. SCFA serve multiple important functions: (1) They are a major source of energy for colon cells. (2) Along with the above mentioned bacteriocins, they provide an antibacterial function, which stabilizes the normal, healthy microflora population in the colon by preventing the implantation of pathogens in the walls of the colon. (3) They play a key role in the regulation of the neuro-immuno-endocrine system. Research has indicated that the nervous system, immune system, and endocrine system are anatomically and functionally interconnected. What affects one system also affects the other two when their homeostasis (a healthy state of stability and proper function) is disturbed by inflammation, stress, or infection. When the microflora in the colon are operating at peak efficiency, producing adequate SCFA, then the healthy functioning of the nervous system, immune system, and endocrine system is enhanced. But in the reverse, if the microflora in the colon are not efficiently producing SCFA, then those three crucial systems in the body are negatively impacted.<br /><br />RELEVANT RESEARCH<br /><br />Aykan, N. Red Meat and Colorectal Cancer. Oncol Rev. 2015 Feb 10;9(1):288.<br /><br />Durchschein, F., et al. (2016). Diet therapy for inflammatory bowel diseases: the established and the new. World J Gastroenterol. 2016 Feb 21;22(7):2179–94.<br /><br />Glick-Bauer, M., et al. The health advantage of a vegan diet: exploring the gut microbiota connection. Nutrients. 2014;(6):4822–38.<br /><br />Kapoor, D., et al. Drug Delivery Systems, Chapter 14 Coating Technologies in Pharmaceutical Product Development, in Advances in Pharmaceutical Product Development and Research. 2020;14:665-719.<br /><br />Long, M., et al. Drug Release Test Methods for Enteric Coated Products, Chapter 14 Dissolution Testing of Solid Products, in Developing Solid Oral Dosage Forms. 2009;14(4.1):319-340.<br /><br />Martin, O., et al. Antibiotic suppression of intestinal microbiota reduces heme-induced lipoperoxidation associated with colon carcinogenesis in rats. Nutr Cancer. 2015;67(1):119-125.<br /><br />Salonen, A., et al. Impact of diet on human intestinal microbiota and health. Annu Rev Food Sci Technol. 2014; (5):239–62.<br /><br />Silva, Y., et al. The Role of Short-Chain Fatty Acids From Gut Microbiota in Gut-Brain Communication. Front. Endocrinol. 2020 Jan 31.<br /><br />Tomova, A., et al. The Effects of Vegetarian and Vegan Diets on Gut Microbiota. Front. Nutr. 2019 Apr 17.<br /><br />Vulcan, A., et al. Intake of different types of red meat, poultry, and fish and incident colorectal cancer in women and men: results from the Malmö Diet and Cancer Study. Food Nutr Res. 2017 Jul 18;61(1):1341810.<br /><br />Williams, B. Gut Fermentation of Dietary Fibres: Physico-Chemistry of Plant Cell Walls and Implications for Health. Int J Mol Sci. 2017 Oct; 18(10): 2203.
