Great Equalization: Is MBBS From India Equal To M.D. In U.S.A?

SPECIAL ARTICLE
AAPI Journal • March 2009
Probiotic Theraphy
by M.S. Reddy, M.D & D.R.K. Reddy, M.D.
Probiotics as Therapeutic Agents:
Probiotics are bacteria or
microorganisms that are beneficial to
the health of an individual. They are
essentially the opposite of
antibiotics, which are inhibitory to
other bacteria (including Probiotic
bacteria). The word ‘Probiotic’ is
derived from two Greek words, ‘Pro’
and ‘Bios’, meaning ‘for life’.
Probiotics are non-pathogenic, do
not produce toxins, and are
considered natural. The Probiotics
organisms are believed to exhibit
therapeutic effects because of their
innate ability to produce lactic acid
and other substances that are
inhibitory to harmful bacteria. They
naturally reside in the human
intestinal tract at receptor sites in the
ileum, where they create a mildly
acidic environment that is not
favorable for the growth and viability
of pathogenic microorganisms,
including viruses.
These beneficial bacteria have an
antagonistic effect on pathogenic
bacteria, while antibiotics have an
antagonistic effect on Probiotics.
Consequently, when a person is
treated with antibiotics, the
Probiotics residing in the
gastrointestinal tract can be inhibited,
adding another layer of complexity
to the illness. To counteract this
problem, some physicians prescribe
the use of Probiotics following use of
an antibiotic, in order to restore
healthy gastrointestinal flora.
Considerable judgment should be
exercised by the physician in
prescribing a proper Probiotic by
taking into account its physiological
and biochemical properties.
Since Probiotics are natural
inhabitants of the human
gastrointestinal tract, they have to be
maintained in proper balance to
bestow good health. Modern foods
that contain preservatives and dyes,
etc., are not beneficial to the
gastrointestinal flora, especially
Probiotics. Consequently, in order to
maintain and ensure proper
gastrointestinal eco-flora, continuous
or periodic supplementation of
Probiotics is a must.
Potential Benefits of Probiotic Therapy:
Before proceeding with a
discussion on the benefits of
Probiotic therapy, let us review the
microbiological composition of the
human gastrointestinal tract. The
human gastrointestinal tract harbors a
variety of microorganisms. The
human stomach content, i.e. gastric
juice, has only 10 to 100
microorganisms per milliliter (ml) or
gram. In the upper portion of the
small intestine, i.e. the duodenum,
the bacterial population in the
contents range from 1000 to 10,000
per/ml. The bacterial population
increases as we go down to the distal
part of the ileum to 1,000,000 to
10,000,000 per/ml of the contents.
The colon has 100 billion to 1 trillion
bacteria per/ml of the contents. In
the entire colon, the total number of
bacteria is roughly 100 trillion or
more. The total number of eucaryotic
cells (cells with definite nucleus) in
the human being is roughly 10
trillion. Thus, the colon bacterial cell
population exceeds the total host cell
population by ten times or more.
The bacterial population in the gut
has been adapted through
associative growth relationships.
There are many factors that interfere
with this normal dynamic balance.
Various factors contribute to this
eco-imbalance, including the intake
of chemicals, antibiotics, etc. Under
these adverse conditions, the
microflora that are beneficial health
promoters are replaced by
pathogenic bacteria such as
Clostridia, sulphate reducers, certain
Bacteroides species, etc. These
pathogenic bacteria predispose the
host to a number of clinical
disorders, and infections by transient
enteropathogens. Thus, maintenance
of balanced beneficial intestinal
microflora, consisting of
Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium,
etc. is essential. It raises a very
important issue regarding the validity
of antibiotic therapy. In our opinion,
the microbial ecosystem of the small
intestine and colon dictate the
overall health and well being of the
human.
The following are some of the
benefits of Probiotic therapy:
1. Reduction of lactose
malabsorption: Half of the
world population is unable to
utilize lactose. Lactose
malabsorption can be corrected
by probiotics. Lactose is a
disaccharide made of glucose
and galactose. A person who
lacks the enzyme lactase in the
gut cannot digest lactose and
thus develops clinical symptoms
of typical lactose intolerance.
Probiotics, especially L.
acidophilus, have the B-
galactosidase enzyme, which
can break down the
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