Myth vs Truth: Do Antibiotics Ruin Gut Health?
Restoring gut bacteria after antibiotics
If you have ever gone on vacation to a tropical paradise the first thing people tell you is “don't drink the water.” Well that is good advise however during an evening of dancing and music we might accidentally eat or drink the wrong thing and have violent diarrhea or vomiting. To stop this digestive trauma, the doctor may prescribe antibiotics and many times this gives some relief, at least we are can start getting back to normal or so we think. The violent digestive trauma is gone but discomfort lingers on and things in a subtle way just don't feel right.
We can't talk about the digestive track in any rational way unless we address the full scope of the microbiome. We have to consider the full recognition of how antibiotics affected gut health. Most people don't realize that our microbiome in our colon provides more the 60% of our immunity response. To once and full all get it back in balance and healthy again we need certain spore biotics, particularly from the Bacillus strain. So in true Dr. Johnny fashion I will give the history and research from Microbiome Labs for a more in-depth discussion of spores.
History of Bacillus Spores
During WWII, more German soldiers stationed in North Africa were dying from dysentery than in battles. The Germans noticed that when the locals became ill, theyfound dried camel dung and consumed it. Yes, they ate it right on the spot. Something in the camel dung was fighting dysentery and other infections, so they took some camel dung back to the pharmaceutical companies in Germany.
Late 1940's - Bacillus clausii was isolated and used as a prescription spore probiotic in Germany (Enterogermina). Primarily used to treat dysentery, chronic upper respiratory infections, and other immune dysfunctions in kids and adults. Enterogermina is still on the market today (made in Italy). Since 1958: Bacti-Subtil (France) also entered the market as a prescription. There are at least 14 well-established spore drugs on the market in Europe, South East Asia, and Latin America, in addition to products used in agriculture and aquaculture.
First forward to today in Florida, Dr. Johnny's home state, when starting in 2005 - Microbiologist, Kiran Krishnan, was tasked with developing the most effective probiotic that not only survives and thrives, but contains probiotic strains native to the gastrointestinal tract. He asked - What would be nature's probiotic? How would we encounter them in nature? What are they and what would they do in the body? The obvious answer - would be something that mimics nature. Kiran and Dr. Tom Bayne realized the incredible potential of Bacillus spores and started the research process to bring Bacillus spores to manufacturing.
2012 - After 7 years, the research team achieved the very difficult task of stabilizing the spores for supplement manufacturing founded Microbiome Labs and MegaSporeBiotic their flagship product entered the market
The reason for spores inherent survivability comes from their bi-phasic life cycle. This means that the Bacillus spores can transition interchangeably from their dormant form to their active form, depending on the environment. In its dormant spore form, Bacillus
will surround itself with an endospore, which is a tough, natural outer shell that protects it from light, harsh temp., lack of oxygen, low PH, gastric barriers, antibiotics, UV radiation, solvents, enzymes, and even high pressures. This key feature is what allows MegaSporeBiotic™ to survive easily through digestion without the need for enteric- coated capsules or refrigeration.
Bacillus spores open in the intestines, tumble around the lining of the gut, then a molecular handshake happens welcoming them into the environment, and they open up.
They become metabolically active and start quorum sensing. They read microbial signatures of bacteria in the environment. Because they have evolved with us, they know which bacteria should and shouldn't be there so they will read their chemical signatures, identify pathogens that are overgrown, sit next to them, and compete with them.
Bacillus Spores in MegaSporeBiotic
- Bacillus Subtilis Bacillus Licheniformis Bacillus Coagulans Bacillus Clausii Bacillus Indicus HU36
- Most widely used and well-studied strains in humans are: Spores that modulate the microbiota through quorum sensing.
- Quorum sensing is a cell-to-cell communication process that enables bacteria to collectively modify behavior in response to changes in the cell density and species composition of the surrounding microbial community.
- Bacillus spores produce a significant number of antimicrobials that control bacterial overgrowth in the GUT. There are over 17of these antimicrobials.
- Spores conduct competitive exclusion (CE) of pathogenic organisms to help maintain microbiota balance. CE is accomplished by competing for space and nutrients.
- Spores have the ability to increase the numbers of important GIT commensals such as Lacto., Bifido., Akkermansia, F. Pauznitzii.
- This is important when we are achieving Microbiome Balance.
MegaSporeBiotic™ can increase microbial diversity by changing the pH, crowding out unwanted pathogens, and increasing the production of short-chain fatty acids.
These spores are found all over the environment (soil, vegetation, dust, rocks, aqua- environments, digestive systems of insects, marine life, mammals, humans, etc.) Studies indicate that the environment is simply a vector to transfer the bacteria from host to host, the spores are better suited for life in the GI, but designed to be passed via the environment.
They colonize very effectively in the human gastrointestinal tract and several different animals. The spores in MegaSporeBiotic are part of the normal human commensal flora. They are true commensal organisms and their mechanisms should be noted.
MegaSporeBiotic™ contains five Bacillus spore-forming bacterial strains. Spore- formers surround themselves with a protective coat, so they are naturally designed to navigate digestion with 99.99% survivability. They arrive in the gut, transition from spore to active form, and provide practical reconditioning support.
MegaSporeBiotic™ can support increased microbial diversity, maintain healthy gut barrier and immune function, and support keystone bacterial species that produce valuable short-chain fatty acid (SCFAs) metabolites, including butyrate. SCFAs support many diverse physiological processes necessary for optimal health and well-being.
MegaSporeBiotic™ is the first, truly innovative, multi-spore-based probiotic. Check the Patient Register link to fill out the form and then purchase this powerhouse probiotic.
Mechanisms of Action:
- Reconditions the gut by increasing microbial diversity
- Bacillus spores compete with pathogens for space and nutrients and produce antibiotic compounds
- Encourages the growth of key, health-promoting bacteria such as Akkermansia muciniphila, Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, and more.
- Maintains healthy gut barrier and immune system
- Supports tight junction proteins 99.9% survival during digestion and does not need to be refrigerated 5 human commensal Bacillus strains that are found in a healthy human gut and colonize the GI tract.
- May increase butyrate production by up to 40%
- Gut Model study demonstrates a nearly 30% shift in microbiota population with continuous administration of our bacillus spores
- First 100% spore-based probiotic clinically shown to improve leaky gut by 60% in just 30 days
30-Day supplementation with MegaSpore resulted in:
- 42% reduction in circulating LPS following a high-fat meal
- 24% reduction in triglyceride levels (36% reduction in 90-days), improved gut brain connection and metabolic markers.
- Supports immune function, improves cytokine balance, reduction in loose stools
A deeper look at the 5 different probiotics in MegaSporeBiotic
Bacterial spores are dormant life forms that can exist in a desiccated and dehydrated state indefinitely. Each spore-forming strain has its own unique set of benefit survivability:
- Bacillus Indicus, HU36: potent immune stimulation, produces carotenoids (lycopene, astaxanthin, beta-carotene, & lutein) at the site of absorption, most effective antioxidant probiotic strain on the market
- Bacillus Subtilis, HU58: produces over 24 antibiotics, strongest competitor, produces nattokinase & K2, shown to lower Il-6 & TNF-a, highly important for immune development – GALT, (gut associated lymphoid tissue) strong production of SCFA's (short chain fatty acids)
- Bacillus Coagulans (SC-208): produces L+optical form of lactic acid, increases nutrient absorption by producing digestive enzymes, increases absorption of BCAA's, improves peristalsis, reduces inflammatory metabolites
- Bacillus Licheniformis (SL-307): produces antibiotic bacitracin, produces protease, improves protein digestion, produces full spectrum of B vitamins and folic acid
- Bacillus Clausii (SC-109): antibiotic-resistant during antibiotic use, supports immune function, improves cytokine balance, reduction in loose stools
With MegaSporeBiotic we can be assured that after that round of antibiotics that saved our lives we can eliminate that lingering discomfort with an imbalanced microbiome. Click on the Patient Registration link and purchase MegaSporeBiotic today.
