The epidemic of antibiotic-resistant bacteria
is not coming—it's already here! Billions of wild bacteria—deadly
"smart bugs"—are reproducing and mutating at an uncontrollable
rate. Each year, hospitals spread antibiotic-resistant bacteria to
two million patients. 1 And even with a significant
decrease in antibiotic use since 1995, the spread of resistant bacteria
continues to skyrocket.
Research
team discovers new way to kill deadly microbes
A team of researchers led by Iichiroh Ohhira, Ph.D., has turned to
beneficial intestinal flora to help win the war against resistant
bacteria. Scientists have traditionally assumed that the digestive
systems mechanism for destroying pathogenic microbes was result of
the good bacteria simply out-numbering the bad—large colonies of friendly
flora deprive harmful microbes of necessary food and nutrients. However,
recent studies show that these beneficial bacteria can also fight
pathogenic microbes in ways scientists never suspected.
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Through mechanisms researchers don't
yet fully understand, good bacteria located in the gut boost the body's
general immune response to microbial invaders outside of the digestive
tract. 2 And, recent animal studies indicate that
friendly intestinal bacteria may also ward off disease by improving
liver function. Since the liver is one of the primary disease-fighting
organs, researchers believe that boosting its defense mechanism may
augment the body's ability to disarm and eliminate potentially deadly
organisms.
New bacterium destroys virulent and resistant
microorganisms
Based on this research. Dr. Ohhira and his team at Okayama University
developed a revolutionary probiotic (a supplement containing live
beneficial organisms) with a new bacterial strain proven
to destroy resistant pathogens.
They isolated a lactic-acid bacteria
(LAB) strain known as Enterococcus faecalis TH 10
in tempeh, a Malaysian soy product. This bacterium was carefully isolated
and fermented over a five-year period, as a longer fermentation period
was shown to enhance its microbe-killing abilities. As a result of
this inventive culturing process, TH 10 became potent enough
to kill methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA),
4 which is responsible for many rapidly spreading
infections occurring now in hospitals. 5 Conquering
this virulent microbe has come at a critical juncture, as a few strains
of S. aureus are already resistant to over 20 antibiotic compounds.
Some scientists believe that research will soon be outpaced by the
bacterium's ability to resist any new drugs that may be developed.6
TH 1O's ability to overcome
MRSA is an important victory, but its advantages don't end there.
Researchers have found that its antimicrobial capacity extends to
a number of other antibiotic-resistant microbes.
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In the near
future, H. pylori may be immune to mainstream therapies
For decades, ulcers were treated with a wide array of drugs and surgery,
but only in recent years has mainstream medicine discovered that H.
pylori, the bacteria associated with many types of ulcers, could
quickly be eliminated with a short course of antibiotics. It wasn't
long before the massive use of the therapy resulted in new strains
of H. pylori that required longer courses of antibiotics.
In some areas, antibiotic use has caused an increased resistance of
almost 460 percent to one of the drugs—in as little asthree
years. 7
Early in vitro testing of Dr. Ohhira's formulation on H. pylori
strains at the Department of Medicine of Monash University in Australia
showed that TH 10 could inhibit all strains of the bacterium.
While it's obvious that TH 10 works, the Australian researchers
admitted that it was unclear how it was able to accomplish this. 8
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Lactic-acid bacteria may disrupt cancerous
activity
Although the "superstar" of Dr. Ohhira's probiotic is TH
10, the other 11 bacteria in the product are also proven microbe
killers. In fact, the anticarcinogenic activity of lactic-acid bacteria
(LAB) in general is quite significant.
Since the beneficial bacteria are going
to eventually settle in the intestinal tract, you might expect that
colon cancer would be the only type of cancer affected by these organisms.
While research shows that colonization by beneficial bacteria does
have an inhibitory effect on colon cancer precursors, the friendly
flora enforces the immune system's overall inhibitory effect on tumors
and cancerous activity by neutralizing carcinogens, like nitrosamines.
9 Through stimulation of the general immune response,
tumor generation may be reduced for other types of cancer.
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Regular
probiotic therapy strengthens your immune system
Scientists are discovering
that other illnesses not usually associated with intestinal flora
may also be inhibited by Lactic Acid Bacteria (including TH 10).
When animal and human test subjects are given probiotics containing
lactic-acid bacteria, they build a stronger general immune system
that can resist flu viral infections,10 salmonella bacterial
infestations," and cell mutations that are precursors to intestinal
tumors.12
Animal and in vitro studies conducted
in Italy indicate that probiotics may also be useful in treating urinary
tract infections, immune disorders, Candida vaginitis, lactose intolerance,
high cholesterol levels, and food allergies.13
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Meticulous
results for a supplement that's six times stronger than other probiotics
One of the difficulties
in developing foods and supplements that contain live bacteria is
that the bacteria may no longer be alive by the time you use the product
due to improper packaging, exposing the bacteria to high heat during
processing, or extended storage time without properly nourishing the
bacteria.
To ensure the viability and potency of
their bacteria, Dr. Ohhiras team developed a protective shell that
keeps bacteria alive and free from infestation by harmful pathogens.
Their special fermentation process is "cold" and doesn't
expose the bacteria to high heat. Because of these meticulous culturing
and packaging processes, Dr. Ohhira's tests show that his product
is more than six times stronger than any other naturally occurring
Lactic Acid Bacteria. This claim is based on research showing that
80 percent of all other probiotics are no longer alive by the time
they reach the consumer. These painstaking manufacturing methods result
in a product that has a guaranteed shelf-life of three years after
shipment.
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Digestive
disorders, viral infections, and skin conditions may benefit from
regular probiotic therapy
In addition to supplying TH 10 and the other bacterial
strains, this supplement—called Probiotics
12 Plus—provides 10 vitamins, eight minerals, four acids, and
18 amino acids. Each capsule contains approximately 780 million Lactic
Acid Bacteria cells. Dosage depends on the condition being treated.
More aggressive diseases, such as cancer, generally require a higher
dose. But even at the highest dosage levels, the number of live cells
falls under 9 billion. After an illness is brought under control,
a lower maintenance dose is suggested.
Besides being helpful in treating the
health conditions already listed, research suggests that Probiotics
12 Plus may also be useful in treating the following disorders:
inflammatory bowel disease, colitis, Crohn's disease, spastic colon,
constipation, diarrhea, and diverticulitis, acid reflux, heartburn,
and peptic ulcers, asthma and cystic fibrosis, diabetes, Epstein-Barr
virus, acne, psoriasis, and eczema, arthritis, multiple sclerosis,
HIV/AIDS, and hepatitis B and C.
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An information
sheet has detailed information on dosages and the best time of
day to take the supplement. Be sure to work with your doctor in determining
how best to incorporate this treatment.
The Health Sciences Institute is dedicated
to uncovering and researching the most urgent advances in modern underground
medicine. Whether they come from a laboratory in Malaysia, a clinic
in South America, or a university in Germany, our goal is to bring
the treatments that work directly to the people who need them. We
alert our members to exciting breakthroughs in medicine, show them
exactly where to go to learn more, and help them understand how they
and their families can benefit from these powerful discoveries.
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References:
1 National Center for
Infectious Disease, CDC
2 J Nutr, 130(2S Suppl):396S-402S, 2000
3 Am J Clin Nutr, 73(2 Suppl):380S-5S, 2001
4 Japanese Journal of Dairy and Food Sciences, 45(4), 1996
5 Antimicrobial Resistance, Data to Assess Public Health Threat from
Resistant
Bacteria are Limited, pp. 30-1 and 33, General Accounting Office,
April 1999
6 Japanese Journal of Dairy and Food Sciences, 45(4), 1996
7 Emerging Infectious Diseases, 3(385-9), 1997
8 Asia Pacific J Clin Nutr, 5:20-4, 1996
9 Immune Cell Biol, 78(1):80-8, 2000
10 Antonie V Leeuwenhoek, 76(1-4): 383-9, 1999
11 J Food Prof, 62(7):751-7, 1999
12 BratisI Lek Listy, 100(5),238-45, 1999
13 Int J Antimicrob Agents, 16(4):531-6, 2000
DISCLAIMER:
The information in this article is for educational purposes only,
and is not intended to provide medical advice which should always
be obtained from a qualified health practitioner, and has not been
approved by the U.S. FDA.
