• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

We Need Friendly Bacteria

Posted on: Tuesday, 26 October 2004, 14:00 CDT

THE health status of the expectant mother, how the baby was delivered, was he premature or full-term and whether he is breast- or bottle-fed have a huge impact on the child's wellbeing. There is scientific evidence to show that Caesarean-born, premature and bottle-fed babies are more susceptible to infection and allergies.

Scientists believe that the above factors contribute to an imbalance in the types and quantities of gut bacteria (microflora) of the infant. The gut of the human foetus is sterile but is exposed to various types of microorganisms after birth - from the mother's vaginal canal, the contact with other humans and the surroundings, from the breast or bottle when fed as well as whether the expectant mother is ingesting the friendly live bacteria known as probiotics.

The gut microflora is made up of about 500 types of bacteria of different strains and the overwhelming majority reside in the colon. Common ones found in our body are Bifidobacteria, Lactobacilli, Rheumanococccus, Bacteriodes, Eubacterium, Fusobacteria, Peptococcaceae and Streptococcus. In some way, whether through evolution, we seemed to have developed a symbiotic relationship with these bacteria which offer us protective and nutritive benefits. Once this micro-ecosystem is upset, pathogenic microbes seem to rule the day, resulting in discomfort, ill- health and diseases.

Caesarean section babies are not exposed to maternal microflora unlike vaginally born infants and hence have a different microflora in their guts. This leads to a tendency to develop gastrointestinal and immune problems. Common problems are diarrhoea, constipation, poor growth rates, atopic eczema, allergic rhinitis and asthma. The same could be said of bottle-fed babies compared to breast-fed as scientific data show that the former tend to acquire the potential disease-causing bacteria of the Enterobacter species whereas full- term infants receiving mother's breast milk have higher concentrations of bifidobacteria in the first weeks of life.

Bifidobacteria are sometimes referred to as the baby's bacteria as they are the most prolific bacteria found in babies' stools. Babies on breast milk have loose acidic stools with a rather cheesy odour while formula-fed babies produce stools that are almost similar to adult in appearance, smell and composition.

The growth of bifidobacteria is promoted by the ingestion of human milk and their health benefits are enormous and vital. Bifidobacteria produce acetic and lactic acids that prevent the colonisation of undesirable bacteria in baby's gut to help protect against infections. They play a role in proper digestion and absorption of food, thus reducing digestive problems such as diarrhoea, constipation, excessive wind or flatulence, gastritis and indigestion. These friendly bacteria also assist in normal weight gain in babies due to their ability to break down milk protein to release calcium and magnesium, digest lactose (milk sugars) and increase the digestibility of proteins.

In breast-fed babies, the friendly microflora is mainly bifidobacteria until the child is weaned, and the microflora changes where the Lactobacillus species play an equally important role in allergies and immunity. Incidence of allergy is on the rise in both developed and developing nations. It is said that every third child in many industrialised countries suffers from one form of allergy or another.

Sensitivities or allergic reactions occur when certain group of antibodies called immunoglobulins is triggered in response to foods, chemicals and bacterial toxins. The antibodies' response to these foreign substances (antigens) manifests in symptoms that include migraine, running or stuffy nose, asthma-like symptoms, eczema, skin rashes, joint aches, fatigue, poor concentration and mood swings.

Probiotics can contribute to the processing of food antigens in the gut and modify the structure of potential antigens, thus reducing the antibodies' response. Clinical studies show significant improvement of atopic eczema in children and the reduction of allergic response in children and adults with the use of Lactobacillus LA-5 and Bifidobacterium BB-12.

* The writer, a pharmacist, is actively involved in the dissemination of information on natural healthcare and holistic therapies, can be contacted at csyam@streamyx.com.

Source: New Straits Times

More News in this Category