Probiotics for infants are becoming one of the most popular trends in the holistic health world today. Probiotics benefits have been well documented. But are infant probiotics safe? Let’s start from the beginning.
What are Probiotics?
Probiotic is a term used to describe the beneficial bacteria that is present in all of our intestinal tracts. Immediately following birth, the intestinal tract is colonized by many different species of bacteria. This occurs through breast milk, environmental factors, and others as well.
While infant probiotic supplements are new, the science is not. And probiotics for children and toddlers have been available for some time. The most well known, and well researched species of probiotic bacteria is lactobacillus acidopholus. It was discovered in the late 1800′s, and has been shown to ease the symptoms of lactose intolerance, as well as relieving mild digestive problems. Lactobacillus acidopholus is commonly found in fermented dairy products such as yogurt. Bifidobacteria is also very common.
Why are Probiotics Important?
The healthy bacteria within all of us is there for many reasons. Some are well understood, and many more are being discovered and studied every day. The most basic function of these healthy bugs is to simply take up space so that harmful organisms can’t get a foothold. We are surrounded by all forms of potentially harmful bacteria and fungi.
Clostridium difficile (C. diff.) is an infectious bacteria that can have life threatening consequences. It should be noted that cases of C. diff. in children have more than doubled in the past 10 years. There is more information below in the section on antibiotics.
Candida (yeast) is a fungus that is naturally present in all of our digestive tracts. And under normal circumstances it is perfectly safe. But it can become overgrown causing a state known in the holistic health world as dysbiosis. Once again, please see the section below on antibiotics.
Antibiotic Use
We can’t completely understand the benefits of probiotics for infants until we take a good hard look at antibiotics. They both have a very important effect on the same part of the body-the intestines.
Simply put, antibiotics kill bacteria. They kill the bad bacteria, but they kill the good bacteria as well. We all know that babies get sick and they need their medication, but there is a price to pay. As I stated earlier, the good bugs take up space so that the bad bugs won’t multiply as easily.
What happens after a course of antibiotics is a power vacuum, so to speak. C. diff. in children is rising rapidly. And the onset of C. diff. most often occurs after a round of antibiotics. Though this can’t be proven beyond a shadow of a doubt, the theory and the facts are certainly starting to match up.
It is an excellent idea to take a round of probiotics after a round of antibiotics to restore the healthy bacteria that is lost. A daily probiotic supplement is also a good idea for supporting healthy bowel flora.
Benefits of Probiotics
- Improves tolerance to dairy products
- Improves nutrient absorption
- Regulates immune function
- Relieves minor gastrointestinal problems
- Acts as a barrier against harmful organisms
These are the most well known benefits of probiotics. There is emerging science to suggest that probiotics may be useful in the treatment of hypertension, high cholesterol, IBS, and the prevention of colon cancer.
Probiotics for Infants
The most common use for infant probiotics is to relieve mild digestive issues, mainly diarrhea. But please note that severe diarrhea can cause fatal dehydration, so medical attention should be sought in such a case.
Eczema and allergies are 2 areas where there has been a lot of research regarding probiotics for infants. There have been several studies that have demonstrated a decrease in the incidence of eczema in infants taking a probiotic formula. But the children involved were only tracked up to age 4. This research is not considered conclusive by many in the scientific community because only a small amount of studies were done. But this does tie into the concept of immune modulation.
There are several different infant probiotics available. Be sure to follow the instructions listed by the manufacturer. Do not give an infant an adult supplement, or one meant for older children. The only reported side effects have been mild gas.
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