There are many probiotics that have been shown in randomized controlled trials to have beneficial effects. Chosing to take one, and which one, can be confusing.
Below are comments from Lyme knowledgable professionals that may be of interest.
NOVEMBER 2020 STUDY- Caution: Blood Infections Traced To Probiotics
COMMENTS
LLMD- I looked into this a long time ago and came to several conclusions:
1. Always use a probiotic that contains soil-based organisms. Prescript-Assist from Researched Nutritionals is by far the most famous and the one I use.
2. Need both lactobacillus and bifidus; the latter seems to be the more important so be sure to include it in your regimen
3. Because there are many well-known and trusted brands, and many differ in formulation, I suggest you simply mix, match and rotate among the better ones, but always include the soil-based ones in every rotation.
4. Prebiotics are important too!
LLMD- I find MegaFoods brand, Mega Flora to be excellent, and I like, culturelle, florastor, and align as well. Good clinical results. VSL#3, excellent with IBD.
Volunteer Patient Advocate- Some insurance companies cover VSL#3, which has 8 strains and 900 billion CFU's. It is available by prescription only. It has been an excellent product for me for many years, but the company changed the formula within the last month, so now it contains quite a bit of corn starch. For those trying to limit carbohydrates or with corn allergies, this doesn't work. Otherwise it's a good, consistent product.
Volunteer Lyme Patient Advocate - VSL ~3 are not that expensive. Each 4.4 gram sachet contains 8 types of live lactobacilli for a total of 450,000,000,000 billion lacotbacilli per sachet, The VSl-3 are live if properfly kept.
Vsl~3 is sold in package of 10 sachets for a total of 4,500,000,000, 000 (or 4.5 trillion lactobacilli) or in packages of 30 sachets for total of 13,5 trillion lactobacilli per package .
Vsl ~3 lactobacilli , once in the, gut seem to reproduce about 10- 20 times.
Our entire body contains about 13,000 microbial, viral and fungal species (so fa identified) , for total of 90 trillion micro-organisms (90. 000, 000, 000, 000)+ those other micro-organisms which cannot be detected directly because they do not grow outside the human body.
Therefore to make a substantial and rapid change into a disbyotic gut you do not need to buy a lot of Vsl~3 paks
1/2 to , 1 or 2 sachets, for 5-10 days is more than sufficient to quickly restore your gut and knock down both the parasite and fungi/mould, worms and bacteria.
Therefore for an initial repair of the gut a pack of 10 sachet , to be taken 1-2 sachet a day should be sufficient,
In UK that will cost about £16 -£19
VSL~3 is recommended by Professor Montaigner, Professor Kenny de Meirleir, and it was recommended to me by Professor Malcolm Hooper.
VSL~3 is cheapaer in Italy where it is manufactured and in Conrtinental Europe, Doctors, following abx treatments, have been using lactobacilli for the last 50 years. VSL~3 is quite expensive in USA. On the other hand the USA medical racket now prefers to perform fecal transplant.
Apparently fecal transplant makes a lot of money.
Some UK people, new to the therapeutic effect of lactobacilli claimed on the Internet that they felt worse after they took VSL#3 and identified the feeling sick as "caused by contaminants contained in VSL~3".
The probable reason why they felt unwell after taking VSl~ 3 could be ascribed to the fact that in restoring normal gut flora the lactobacilli killed the pathogenic overgrowth in the gut.
Then pathogens killed by the probiotics contained in the VSL~ 3 released toxins which cause the bad symtpoms. If taken in excess VSl~3 can cause a temporary stomach bloatiness, during the lactobacilli reproduction. Thi is harmless and the temporary excess of gas will be eliminated in the usual physiological way. The type of smell assocted with the gas eliminated on back side can be an indication of the type pathogen killed
It is part of the so called Herxheimer reaction, always mentioned by too many Lyme people, but often very poorly understood............
One thing to note: lactobacilli , including VSL ~3 must be taken after abx treatment not together or in the same day) .. because most abx kills gut lactobacilli.
On the other hand Lyme bacteria are slow growing/slow replicating bacteria and, so far , pulsing abx treatment , alternated with repairing treatment s, seems to be the method which gives better outcome.
Therefore stoppin abx for 5-10 days and used Vsl-3 lactobacilli (and ideally dried freeze 30% IGG bovine colostrum in large quantities , available in UK in 250 gram sachet) is the best way to restore the gut flora, & to knock down parasites, worms fungi , as well as to repair the gut etc..
The 30%IGG New Zealand freeze dried first 48 hours bovine colostrum contains colostrum titrated at 30%IGG, lactoferrin, transfer factors, 97 growth factors , aminoacids, vitamins etc.
This type of colostrum is excellent to repair the gut, and to eliminate bugs/parasite etc. !1-2 hours after th eingestion it maakes you sleepy.
You have to make a poultice of the freeze dried colostrum powder and then dissolve it with plenty of water . Then you take it at empty stomach. The 48 hours 30% IGG bovine colostrum must reach the small intestine (where it is absorbed) in 30 minutes from ingestion.
This product , together with L-glutamine, in a few days has cleared the gut of a seven years old girl, the daughter of one person writing on one of UK Lyme group.
Do not use colostrum in capsule. The capsule contain a minimal amount of colostrunm (often dried) and the colostrum products in capsule are a waste of money.
L - glutamine (an aminoacid) is also essential to repair the gut and to detox the body.
(path _l-glutaimine picks up the ammonia in the gut, then turn into glutamate, which excite neurons then it converts into GABA,which is the calm neuro-trasnmitter .
Inflammation is also caused by a disruption of the gut . It is often caused by intestinal dysbiosis and pathogens which trigger overproduction of several cytockines (including IL-6)
The disruption of the GABA path caused by pathogens, will cause neronal malfunctioning insomnia , general inflammation and neural pain
That's why British GPs prescribe Gabapentin ( a gabaergic anti-epileptic drug).
The problem with gabapentin (apart from being an anti-epileptic) is that is very expensive, but often poorly tolerated and, at best , does (partially) suppress the symptoms , but DOES NOT address the causes (Not available in UK. I might have adverse effect on mental performances
Detto for Tramadol, amytriptiline ...methocarabamol....
https://www.google.co.uk/?gws_rd=ssl#q=amitriptyline
Xanax with a small amount of Muscoril (thiocolchicoside) is a far better solution. Also 5ml vial lidocaine solution administered in subcutaneous or Im injection is another way of tackling severe muscle pain with minimal side effects. Lidocaine is used by Dr klingardt as well , as a part of his PS Lyme treatment..
Taurine and Gaba can also be helpful in insomnia triggered by neuronal inflammation . with Glutamate -GABA axis disruption.
SAM-E (S adnosyl L-methionine tosylate) and Nac (N -acetyl-l-cysteine) affect the two main detox biochemical paths. SAM-e also sprouts neuronal & cartilage growth and has a potent anti- rheumatic /antalgic effect, lift the mood and improves brain function.
Nac is the precursor of Glutathione and has antibiofilm & antibacterial, antifungla properties as well. It is also useful in clearing lung mucous and detox the liver. For the lungs and elleged pollen allergies , so very fashionable in UK, NAC is far better than THE nhs ventolin
https://www.google.co.uk/?gws_rd=ssl#q=nac+antifungal+properties
https://www.google.co.uk/?gws_rd=ssl#q=NAC+AGAINST+LYME+BIOFILM
Biotin in high doses ( 5,mg capsule = 5, 000 -- microgram capsule) stops candida from turning into the virulent and invasive form. It also act on the hair, nails ,skin ,etc.
There is a lot one can do by carefully supplying the body with essential and non essential amino acid.(and some vitamins)
Detto for essential oils, and herbal tinctures.
LLMD- I am a big supporter of the use of good quality probiotics plus prebiotics. The problem is how does one know whether the cultures are active? And what happens to these living organisms once they face stomach acid and digestive enzymes? How many of these billions actually survive?
Products like Kefir are attractive because they do contain living organisms, but another thing I always look for is not just live cultures, but also the presence of soil based organisms.
Recently I came across a new take on this- a product that contains the beneficial microbes in spore form- they are inactive until ingested. I copied info from the website (Researched Nutritionals “CoreBiotic”):
CoreBiotic™ represents the latest in advanced probiotics, combining 3 fully sequenced and registered soil based strains with an organic prebiotic to promote colonization. Each of the strains was specifically chosen for their supporting science. CoreBiotic™ is our most comprehensive and advanced probiotic to date.
Advanced, Comprehensive Microbiome Support*
· Advanced: 3 spore forming strains each genomically sequenced and registered guaranteeing accurate specificity and potency
· Comprehensive: Each strain specifically chosen for its published research covering intestinal health and beyond
· Microbiome support: 11 Billion CFU per dose
· Convenient: 1 dose per day, no refrigeration, dairy-free, vegan & competitively priced
I recently had to use them to cover a course of antibiotics I needed to take, and I must say it was a simple and effective regimen.
As an interesting side note, if I drink too much Kefir at a time I get a headache, yet dairy products are otherwise very well tolerated by me. I suppose there is some conflict going on among the bugs in my belly!
Anyway, I have been following this email string and wanted to add this info.
Adaptive Strategies of the Candidate Probiotic E. coli Nissle in the Mammalian Gut
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1931312819301015
QUOTE- "While I believe they are absolutely crucial to treat Lyme, antibiotics kill off all bacteria (good and bad). After you’ve zapped them, you want to repopulate with good bacteria. Eat probiotic-rich fermented vegetables like sauerkraut and kimchi. And supplement with a high-dose, multi-strain probiotic." SOURCE
QUOTE- "We need however to get the immune system to work properly and find a homeostatic balance with these organisms. For example, if the microbiome of the gut is thrown off, we may have a problem with cytokines and our immune system. I use combinations of different probiotics with billions of healthy bacteria to make sure we’re getting good probiotics into our gastrointestinal system, so people don’t get an overgrowth of yeast and Candida." Source