Role of Probiotic in Women’s Health

Probiotics can support women’s health. Not all probiotics, however, are created equal. Women’s health can be strikingly different with respect to certain aspects, then men’s health. On this same basis the focus must be on the need and what matters most for women. Probiotics have been the focus of health gurus for the past several years and have been studied extensively by well-known institutions. Some of this research points to probiotics that exclusively promote women’s health issues while others have identified those that have health benefits in both sexes. Both of these however, can be used to address health concerns and general wellness in women. A blend of a well-balanced probiotics can make the difference between a good day and a bad one and a healthy lifestyle versus a damaging one.

What are Probiotics and how can they help?

They are the vast number of bacterial species present in humans. There are 40,000 different bacterial species¹, 9 million distinctive bacterial genes² and about 100 trillion bacterial cells in our body. Is this good or bad? We must think of these microorganisms as entities whose home is the human body and whose goal is to maintain an environment that they can survive in. It would not be far from reality to think that overall; their day-to-day function would be to promote a healthy environment that ultimately enhances their survival. With a little bit of help from the ultimate decision maker, the individual, this is actually true. If these probiotics are given the right tools, they can achieve this goal. Conversely if they are not given the proper tools and worse, if they are inundated with harmful substances, their ultimate demise will be evident, and this will at some point translate into disease.

How can probiotics help women?

By focusing on health issues that are more prevalent in women, we can encourage the growth of those probiotics that may alleviate those specific concerns. A prime example of a health concern more common in women is anxiety. A study conducted by the Boston University in collaboration with the Boston Healthcare system concluded that anxiety disorders are more prevalent in women and in addition they are also more disabling³ in this population.

 

 

Do probiotics help?

According to a recent double-blind, placebo-controlled study, Lactobacillus plantarum alleviates stress and anxiety by augmenting the serotonin pathways⁴; the same pathway used by antidepressant medications. In another study the use of Lactobacillus rhamnosus in patients with postpartum depression and anxiety showed promising results. Women who received Lactobacillus rhamnosus had significantly lower depression and anxiety⁵. Also, a meta-analysis of the various studies conducted on the use of probiotics on depressive or anxiety disorders concluded that probiotics could alleviate depression and anxiety and may be an adjunct to other available therapies⁶.

What about weight gain in women?

Another predominant concern of women has always been weight gain. Have probiotics shown a benefit in maintaining an ideal body weight? A 2010 Japanese study provides some insight into this⁷. The probiotic Lactobacillus gasseri was studied to indicate whether it had an effect on abdominal fat content and overall body weight in adults with tendencies to gain weight. The study maintained that Lactobacillus gasseri had a positive effect and lowered abdominal fat content, body weight, and other parameters related to disorders of metabolism. The results of a different randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 90 adults is in line with the Japanese study⁸. The abdominal fat content was significantly decreased after 12 weeks of Lactobacillus gasseri intake.

The topics of vaginal health and preventive measures to impede vaginal infections are also high on the agenda. Can probiotics help in this instance?

Healthy vaginal epithelium is colonized by the lactobacillus species mainly Lactobacillus crispatus, Lactobacillus gasseri and Lactobacillus iners⁹. They play an important part in preventing colonization by the more impish species that cause disease. Bacterial vaginosis, a common infection in the younger to middle aged females, is caused by the overgrowth of Gardnerella vaginalis at the expense of the resident lactobacilli¹⁰. In one study, oral intake of Lactobacillus crispatus along with Lactobacillus brevis and Lactobacillus acidophilus significantly lowered the recurrence of bacterial vaginosis compared to the placebo group¹¹. In another study hydrogen peroxide produced by the lactobacillus species including L. brevis, was studied for its antibacterial and therapeutic effects in bacterial vaginosis. They show that women with lower numbers of hydrogen peroxide producing lactobacillus species have a greater incidence of bacterial vaginosis¹². This property is in addition to their ability to maintain an acidic vaginal environment which also limits overgrowth of disease causing bacteria¹².

High levels of cholesterol are a topic of discussion with every health visit at the doctor’s office, for both men and women. Heart health and the prevention of heart attacks or strokes is the goal for such insistence. Can probiotics lend a helping hand?   

Bifidobacterium lactis has been studied for its lipid lowering effects in individuals with type 2 diabetes. People with type 2 diabetes have a propensity for higher levels of the bad cholesterol LDL; an underlying factor for various diseases including heart attacks and strokes. One study evaluated the effects of the consumption of milk supplemented with Bifidobacterium lactis on heart health in individuals with type 2 diabetes. They observed a potential effectiveness in consuming this product for weight loss, its cholesterol lowering effects and its lowering of risks factors for cardiovascular events¹³.

What about Inflammation; the nasty word heard all over the place? 

A Study investigating markers of inflammation and their relationship with probiotics has brought to surface the hope that these friendly bacteria may help in this instance as well. In this study of diabetic patients, C-reactive protein a generally well studies marker of inflammation was shown to decline with the intake of a multispecies probiotic supplement including L. acidophilus, L. casei, L. rhamnosus, L. bulgaricus, B. breve, B. longum, and Streptococcus thermophilus¹⁴. L. reuteri may also provide some hope in the fight against inflammation. In mice, factors mediating inflammation have been shown to be reduced with the intake of L. reuteri¹⁵. Inflammation has been shown to be an underlying and aggravating factor in many diseases.

Skin health and vitality is also a principal concern of women; probiotics may help.

According to one study L. paracasei strengthens skin barrier thereby retaining moisture, reduces skin sensitivity and maintains the normal functioning of skin¹⁶. Other studies tend to support the use of probiotics for skin health.

Probiotics play an integral role in maintaining health in humans. They have shown to be potentially beneficial in many aspects of women’s health. Some of those benefits are mentioned here but many are not. We are now in the early stages of discovering what our tiny friends can do for us. There is so much more to come. Stay tuned and stay healthy.

References

1. Frank DN, Pace NR. Gastrointestinal microbiology enters the metagenomics era. Curr Opin Gastroenterol. 2008 Jan; 24: 4-10.
2. Yang X, Xie L, Li Y, Wei C. More than 9,000,000 unique genes in human gut bacterial community: estimating gene numbers inside a human body. PLoS One. 2009 Jun; 4:6074.
3. McLean CP, Asnaani A, Litz BT, Hofmann SG. Gender Differences in Anxiety Disorders: Prevalence, Course of Illness, Comorbidity and Burden of Illness. J Psychiatr Res. 2011 August; 45(8): 1027–1035.
4. Chong HX, Yusoff NA.A, Hor YY, Lew LC, Jaafar MH, Choi SB, Yusoff MSB, Wahid N, Abdullah MFIL,  Zakaria N, Ong KL, Park YH, Liong MT. Lactobacillus plantarum DR7 alleviates stress and anxiety in adults: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Beneficial Microbes, Volume 10, Number 4, 19 April 2019, pp. 355-373(19).
5. Slykerman RF, Hood F, Wickens K, Thompson JMD, Barthow C, Murphy R, Kang J, Rowden J, Stone P, Crane J, Stanley T, Abels P, Purdie G, Maude R, Mitchell EA. Effect of Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 in Pregnancy on Postpartum Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety: A Randomised Double-blind Placebo-controlled Trial. EBioMedicine 24 (2017) 159-165
6. Limin C, Cui L, Senawin S, Yuefei L, Weijie L, Wenqian C, Linzeng Y, Jiahao Z, Ao G, Zengquan L, Shining G. Effects of Probiotics on Depressive or Anxiety Variables in Healthy Participants Under Stress Conditions or With a Depressive or Anxiety Diagnosis: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Frontiers in Neurology, doi: 10.3389/fneur.2020.00421.
7. Kadooka Y, Sato M, Imaizumi K, Ogawa A, Ikuyama K, Akai Y, Okana M, Kagoshima M, Tsuchida T. Regulation of abdominal adiposity by probiotics Lactobacillus gasseri SBT2055) in adults with obese tendencies in a randomized controlled trial. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2010) 64, 636–643.
8. Kim j, Yun JM, Kim MK, Kwon O, Cho B. Lactobacillus gasseri BNR17 Supplementation Reduces the Visceral Fat Accumulation and Waist Circumference in Obese Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Journal of Medicinal Food Vol.21.No.5
9. Cribby S, Taylor M, Reid G. Vaginal Microbiota and the Use of Probiotics. Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases Volume 2008, Article ID 256490, 9 pages. Doi:10.1155/2008/256490.
10. Sobel JD. Bacterial Vaginosis. Annu.Rev Med. 2000;51:349-56
11. Reznichenko H, Henyk N, Maliuk V, Khyzhnyak T, Tynna Y, Filipiuk I, Veresniuk N, Zubrytska L, Quintens J, Richir K, Gerasymov S. Oral Intake of Lactobacilli Can Be Helpful in Symptomatic Bacterial Vaginosis: A Randomized Clinical Study. Journal of Lower Genital Tract Disease Volume 24, Number 3, July 2020.
12. Eschenbach D. A., Davick P. R., Williams B. L., Klebanoff S. J., Young-Smith K., Critchlow C. M., & Holmes K. K. (1989). Prevalence of hydrogen peroxide-producing Lactobacillus species in normal women and women with bacterial vaginosis. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 27(2), 251-256.
13. Ejtahed H.S, Mohtadi-Nia J, Homayouni-Rad A, Niafar M, Homayouni-Rad M, Mofid V and Akbarian-Moghari A. Effect of probiotic yogurt containing Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium lactis on lipid profile in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus. J. Dairy Sci. 94 :3288–3294 doi: 10.3168/jds.2010-4128.
14. Asemi Z, Zare Z, Shakeri H, Sabihi SS, Esmaillzadeh A. Effect of multispecies probiotic supplements on metabolic profiles, hs-CRP, and oxidative stress in patients with type 2 diabetes. Ann Nutr Metab 2013;63:1–9.
15. Hsieh F. C., Lan C. C., Huang T. Y., Chen K. W., Chai C. Y., Chen W. T., et al. (2016). Heat-killed and live Lactobacillus reuteri GMNL-263 exhibit similar effects on improving metabolic functions in high-fat diet-induced obese rats. Food Funct. 7, 2374–2388. 
16. Benyacoub J, bosco N, Blanchard C, Demont A, Philippe D, Castiel-Higounenc I, Gueniche A, Immune modulation property of Lactobacillus paracasei NCC2461 (ST11) strain and impact on skin defenses. Immune modulation property of Lactobacillus paracasei NCC2461 (ST11) strain and impact on skin defenses. https://doi.org/10.3920/BM2013.0014

Please note:

Microbiome Healthy Choice products are not a replacement for a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle, especially with regard to disease prevention and treatment. They can be a unique and nutritious addition to your overall wellness routine.