A river runs through it.
Infection in our guts can be from many sources: food, water, or pathogens picked up at a hospital or doctor visit. Usually the endgame is the same: diarrhea and then more diarrhea. The dysbiosis is not normally indicative of disease like diverticulosis or colitis or Crohn’s. In most cases the immune system is overrun.
One answer is to bolster the immune system. Lymphocytes or white blood cells are key to recovery. How can probiotics impact their function?
Researchers recently addressed that question. The result appeared in Surgery Today titled “Probiotics inhibit immune fluctuation in the intestinal mucous layer in rats.”
The study:
- Ninety-six male rats were given either Lactobacillus preoperatively or none at all.
- Parts of the ileum were analyzed on days 0, 3, 5 and 7 days after partial small bowel resection.
Results:
- More immune cells in Lactobacillus group initially
- On day 3, immune cells were higher in Lactobacillus group
- By day 5, certain immune cells higher
- By day 7, certain immune cells still higher
Read more about specifics here.
The authors concluded that “Probiotics stabilize the fluctuation of the intestinal immune system postoperatively.”