Date:   2/1/2015 2:11:32 PM ( 9 y ago)
Hits:   1,037
URL:   https://www.curezone.org/forums/fm.asp?i=2234023

If you want to know about gut flora and different Antibiotic effects then it makes very interesting reading. Which Antibiotic has what effect on which type of gut flora etc and yeasts, and which don't effect yeasts! 

The Causes of Intestinal Dysbiosis:
A Review
Jason A. Hawrelak, BNat (Hons), PhD Candidate and
Stephen P. Myers, PhD, BMed, ND


http://www.altmedrev.com/publications/9/2/180.pdf


Abstract

Alterations in the bowel flora and its activities
are now believed to be contributing factors to
many chronic and degenerative diseases.
Irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel
disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis , and ankylosing
spondylitis have all been linked to alterations
in the intestinal microflora. The intestinal
dysbiosis hypothesis suggests a number of
factors associated with modern Western living
have a detrimental impact on the microflora of
the gastrointestinal tract. Factors such as
Antibiotics , psychological and physical stress,
and certain dietary components have been
found to contribute to intestinal dysbiosis. If
these causes can be eliminated or at least
attenuated then treatments aimed at
manipulating the microflora may be more
successful.
(Altern Med Rev 2004;9(2):180-197)


Introduction

The gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is one of
the largest interfaces between the outside world
and the human internal environment. From mouth
to anus, it forms a nine-meter long tube, constituting
the body’s second largest surface area and
estimated to cover approximately 250-400 m2
.
Over a normal lifetime, approximately 60 tons of
food will pass through the GIT.1


Food is obviously
extremely important for well-being, but its passage
through the GIT can also constitute a threat
to health. While the GIT functions to digest and
absorb nutrients, food also provides exposure to
dietary antigens, viable microorganisms, and bacterial
products. The intestinal mucosa plays a dual
role in both excluding these macromolecules and
microbes from the systemic circulation and absorbing
crucial nutrients.2
As mentioned above, the mucosa is exposed
to bacterial products – endotoxins,3
hydrogen
sulphide,4
phenols, ammonia, and indoles5
–
that can have detrimental effects on both mucosal
and host health.5
The presence of many of these
toxic metabolites is directly dependent on the type
of fermentation that occurs in the bowel. In turn,
this fermentation is dependent on the type of bacteria
present in the bowel, as well as the substrates
available for fermentation. Diets high in protein6
and sulfate (derived primarily from food additives )4
have been shown to contribute greatly to
the production of these potentially toxic products.
The production and absorption of toxic metabolites
is referred to as bowel toxemia.7


The bowel toxemia theory has historical
roots extending as far back as Hippocrates. In 400
B.C. he stated that, “...death sits in the bowels...”
and “...bad digestion is the root of all evil....”8


More
modern proponents of the bowel toxemia theory
have included naturopath Louis Kuhne in the late
nineteenth century,9
as well as naturopath Henry
Lindlahr10 and Nobel prize laureate Elie
Metchnikoff in the early twentieth century.11 Louis
Kuhne proposed that excess food intake, or the
intake of the wrong types of food, resulted in the
production of intestinal toxins. Fermentation of
these toxins resulted in increased growth of bacteria
within the bowel and, subsequently, disease.
He believed a predominantly vegetarian and
mostly raw diet would prevent build-up of intestinal
toxins and, hence, would prevent and even
cure disease.9

Only a few years later, Metchnikoff popularized
the idea that fermented milk products could
beneficially alter the microflora of the GIT. He
believed many diseases, and even aging itself,
were caused by putrefaction of protein in the bowel
by intestinal bacteria. Lactic acid-producing bacteria
were thought to inhibit the growth of putrefactive
bacteria in the intestines. Thus, yogurt consumption
was recommended to correct this “autointoxication”
and improve composition of the
microflora.11,12

The bowel toxemia theories eventually
evolved into the intestinal dysbiosis hypothesis.
The term “dysbiosis” was originally coined by
Metchnikoff to describe altered pathogenic bacteria
in the gut.13 Dysbiosis has been defined by
others as “...qualitative and quantitative changes
in the intestinal flora, their metabolic activity and
their local distribution.”14 Thus dysbiosis is a state
in which the microbiota produces harmful effects
via: (1) qualitative and quantitative changes in the
intestinal flora itself; (2) changes in their metabolic
activities; and (3) changes in their local distribution.
The dysbiosis hypothesis states that the
modern diet and lifestyle, as well as the use of
Antibiotics , have led to the disruption of the normal
intestinal microflora. These factors result in
alterations in bacterial metabolism, as well as the
overgrowth of potentially pathogenic microorganisms.
It is believed the growth of these bacteria in
the intestines results in the release of potentially
toxic products that play a role in many chronic
and degenerative diseases.13

There is a growing body of evidence that
substantiates and clarifies the dysbiosis theory.
Altered bowel flora is now believed to play a role
in myriad disease conditions, including GIT disorders
like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)15 and
inflammatory bowel disease (IBD),16,17 as well as
more systemic conditions such as Rheumatoid Arthritis
(RA)18 and ankylosing spondylitis.19 Thus,
knowledge of the factors that can cause detrimental
changes to the microflora is becoming increasingly
important to the clinician.
The Importance of Normal GIT
Microflora
The microflora of the gastrointestinal tract
represents an ecosystem of the highest complexity.14
The microflora is believed to be composed
of over 50 genera of bacteria20 accounting for over
500 different species.21 The adult human GIT is
estimated to contain 1014 viable microorganisms,
which is 10 times the number of eukaryotic cells
found within the human body.22 Some researchers
have called this microbial population the “microbe”
organ – an organ similar in size to the liver
(1-1.5 kg in weight).23 Indeed, this microbe organ
is now recognized as rivaling the liver in the number
of biochemical transformations and reactions
in which it participates.24
The microflora plays many critical roles
in the body; thus, there are many areas of host
health that can be compromised when the microflora
is drastically altered. The GIT microflora is
involved in stimulation of the immune system,
synthesis of vitamins (B group and K), enhancement
of GIT motility and function, digestion and
nutrient absorption, inhibition of pathogens (colonization
resistance), metabolism of plant compounds/drugs,
and production of short-chain fatty
acids (SCFAs) and polyamines.14,25,26
Factors that Can Alter the GIT
Microflora


Many factors can harm the beneficial
members of the GIT flora, including Antibiotic use,
psychological and physical stress, radiation, altered
GIT peristalsis, and dietary changes. This
review will focus exclusively on the interactions
of Antibiotics , stress, and diet with the gut flora


The rest is here:
http://www.altmedrev.com/publications/9/2/180.pdf
 

<< Return to the standard message view

fetched in 0.05 sec, referred by http://www.curezone.org/forums/fmp.asp?i=2234023