It seems that probiotic has been raising storms throughout the internet! Consuming probiotics could lead to “brain fog,” abdominal bloating and a variety of gastrointestinal problem!
Our gut (gastrointestinal tract or intestinal tract that houses these mixes of bacteria) has been studied extensively. These mixes of bacteria were discovered to be able to influence our mind through the various chemical pathway. Quite deliberately, what you eat and how healthy your digestive system is. Can significantly affect your mood and how you think and act. Upon this discovery, the gut has been termed “the second brain” by many health experts; to all my scientific peeps, this ongoing communication between your GI tract and your brain is called Gut-Brain Axis.
There are both ‘good’ and ‘bad’ bacteria living in our large intestine. (Where our stool slowly forms from the leftover-undigested content). Probiotics are the ‘good’ group of beneficial bacteria that keep your gut healthy and well. Most probiotics come from a family of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium and recognize for over a hundred years. That these microbes may impart health benefits to the host when administered in adequate amounts; increasingly, probiotics are thoroughly researched and studied for its therapeutic effect and application in the medical field, as well as in food & beverage.
Enerfiber
Enerfiber utilizes dietary fiber extracted from vegetables and fruits. Also with enzyme premix as well as imbued probiotics with a special coating. Which that allows them to survive stomach acid and bile salt safely. As most modern people suffer from poor diet choice, their gut flora tends to be unhealthy. With bad bacteria thriving and causing havoc to the digestive system; probiotic is known to combat harmful bacteria by tilting the balance back in favor of good bacteria. Also enhancing beneficial metabolism, strengthening the immune system and promoting bowel health.
The one press that started it all
Dr. Satish S.C. Rao, director of neurogastroenterology/motility and the Digestive Health Clinical Research Center at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University.
In his recently published study that has involved 38 patients, 30 have reported experiencing the different severity of confusion. Such as difficulty in focusing, gas and bloating when taking probiotics.
(TL;DR) Excessive probiotic bacteria can migrate to small intestines. Where they reproduce, causing Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO), ferment carbohydrates and produce a substance called D-lactic acid. D-lactic acid is temporarily toxic to brain cells. Dr. Rao concluded, “Probiotics should be treated as a drug, not as a food supplement.”
Now please do not worry. As MC-Ocean has dug deep into this research paper and relevant scientific field looking for answers; because, how is this not heard in this long history of probiotic usage? Has there been a conspiracy all along?
Here’s What We Found
1、Vague Definition：
We are dealing with two key findings that are so poorly defined, that explaining probiotic is simpler than explaining these two things: “Brain fogginess” & “SIBO.”
It is only in the recent year that these terms become commonly used. Since it is very subjective and are outcomes of hundreds of factors and influences; in short, probiotic is not the only factors that cause SIBO. It takes tremendous time and unhealthy lifestyle to alter the pH environment of small intestine unnaturally to suit and susceptible to large-intestines-dwellers.
2、Questionable Methodology：
38 subjects is not a significant sample size, and smaller sample size tends to produce bias result; which is why we aim for larger sample pool (hundreds to thousands) to get the most accurate representative data of the “public.”
Many professionals also pointed out or even criticized Dr. Rao for not creating a baseline measurement that distinguished. Whether these nasty symptoms are results of SIBO or another gastrointestinal sickness; Dr. Rao conducted no further follow up test when patients stop using probiotics too. Hence we never knew if SIBO and brain fogginess did wear off forever, what a cliffhanger!
3、Irreversible damage to scientific credibility caused by callous negligence：
Alongside with Independent Practice Association (IPA) and other prominent researchers and stakeholders in the probiotic field, Dr. Michael Ganzle, Ph.D., of the University of Alberta confessed “Unfortunately, such claims are not only unfounded. But drawing attention to the imprecision employed in this study. Misleading the scientific community, popular press and above all consumers in this way is irresponsible. And the authors should more clearly communicate the shortcomings of their work in light of the above criticisms. In this perspective, also the journal that published this work and the editor need to know their responsibility. Here, the peer-review process has failed”.
Kind Reminder
MC-Ocean kindly reminds our readers and fellow business partners to read news and press carefully. Spread and let them heard the right voice!