Less inflammation, insulin resistance

business womanPeople with type 2 diabetes may develop a bacterial imbalance in the gut that can allow a type of toxin, LPS endotoxin, to leak into the bloodstream, creating systemic inflammation. In this study, 61 adults with type 2 diabetes took a placebo or combined several probiotic strains of lactobacillus and  bifidobacterium for a total of five-billion
colony-forming-units per day.

After six months, while the placebo group had not changed, those taking probiotics saw a nearly 70 percent decrease in circulating endotoxin levels compared to the start of the study. Also, several signs of inflammation: tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-6, and C-reactive protein, declined between 53 and 77 percent.

The probiotics group also saw a 38 percent drop in glucose and insulin levels, and a 64 percent decrease in insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Triglycerides declined 48 percent, total cholesterol dropped 19 percent, and the ratio of HDL, the “good” cholesterol, to total cholesterol, increased.

Doctors said the significant improvements in insulin resistance, inflammation, and lipid profiles in type 2 diabetes suggest multi-strain probiotics may be an effective anti- diabetes therapy.

Less stress, better memory

Recent studies suggest gut and brain health are connected. In this study, 51 adults with moderate stress scores, average age 32, took a placebo or lactobacillus plantarum P8 at a dose of 20-billion colony-forming-units per day.

After four weeks, while there was no change for placebo, the probiotics group had reduced levels of stress and anxiety. After 12 weeks, levels of inflammatory factors interferon gamma and tumor necrosis factor alpha were lower for probiotics. Also for probiotics, women saw improvements in social emotional cognition while men saw improvements in verbal learning and memory.

Doctors said harmful bacteria in the gut can increase inflammation which they believe can effect cognitive function, and that probiotics can reduce this inflammation.

Reference: Clinical Nutrition Journal; 2018, 31351-7; Published Online
Natural Insights for Well Being January 2019

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