By John Baur, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT
The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in maintaining overall health and well-being. An imbalance in the gut microbiota has been linked to a variety of health problems, including gastrointestinal disorders, metabolic disorders, and immune dysfunction. Probiotics are live microorganisms that can provide health benefits when consumed in adequate amounts. Bacillus spp. spores are a type of probiotic that have been shown to modulate the gut microbiota and improve overall health. In this report, we will discuss a study that investigated the effects of a spore-based probiotic containing five strains of Bacillus on the gut microbiota in a SHIME® model of the human gastrointestinal system.
The study used a SHIME® (Simulator of the Human Intestinal Microbial Ecosystem) model to simulate the human gastrointestinal system. The SHIME® model consists of five compartments that simulate different parts of the gastrointestinal tract, including the stomach, small intestine, and colon. The model was inoculated with fecal samples from healthy human donors to establish a complex and diverse gut microbiota.
The spore-based probiotic containing five strains of Bacillus (Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus clausii, Bacillus coagulans, Bacillus licheniformis, and Bacillus pumilus) was added to the SHIME® model for a period of 21 days. The metabolic activity and community composition of the gut microbiota were analyzed before and after treatment with the probiotic.
The study found that treatment with the spore-based probiotic containing five strains of Bacillus induced changes in the metabolic activity and community composition of the gut microbiota in the SHIME® model. Specifically, the probiotic increased the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which are important for maintaining gut health and reducing inflammation. The probiotic also increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus, while reducing the abundance of harmful bacteria such as Clostridium difficile.
In conclusion, the study provides evidence that treatment with a spore-based probiotic containing five strains of Bacillus can induce changes in the metabolic activity and community composition of the gut microbiota in a SHIME® model of the human gastrointestinal system. The probiotic increased the production of short-chain fatty acids and the abundance of beneficial bacteria, while reducing the abundance of harmful bacteria. These findings suggest that Bacillus spp. spores could be a promising treatment option for a variety of health problems related to gut microbiota imbalance, including gastrointestinal disorders, metabolic disorders, and immune dysfunction. Further research is needed to confirm these findings in human clinical trials, but the study provides a promising avenue for future research in the field of probiotics and gut health.
Physical Therapy First recognizes the importance staying well-informed with the latest health and wellness topics that affect our patients. Megasporebiotic made by Microbiome Labs (microbiomelabs.com) is the first spore-base probiotic with research which supports it use for maintaining gut health and reducing systemic inflammation.
Reference
Food Res Int. 2021 Nov; 149:110676. doi: 10.1016/j.foodres.2021.110676. Epub 2021 Aug 30.
Treatment with a spore-based probiotic containing five strains of Bacillus induced changes in the metabolic activity and community composition of the gut microbiota in a SHIME® model of the human gastrointestinal system. Massimo Marzorati, Pieter Van den Abbeele, Sarah Bubeck, Thomas Bayne, Kiran Krishnan, Aicacia Young