Microbiota, intestinal flora: what you need to know?

I have irregular intestinal transit…

Does this mean my intestinal flora is imbalanced? The intestinal flora has long been underestimated. Its crucial role in health has only been recognised for the past ten or so years. When its two bacterial populations become imbalanced, the entire gut flora is disrupted, with major consequences: intestinal transit disorders, such as sluggish transit, bloating, flatulence, etc.

Some of the bacteria present in our intestines (bad bacteria or flora responsible for putrefaction) produce methane. It is this gas which causes flatulence. Studies have shown that this methanogenic flora may have effects on the small intestine and on gut motility. An imbalanced flora is a risk factor for slow intestinal transit. The balance of the gut flora should therefore be considered when transit is disrupted. That's because good health starts in the intestine! Unfortunately, our modern lifestyle gives rise to numerous common factors which disrupt the balance of the microbiota: food excessively high in sugar or saturated fatty acids, dietary changes when on holiday or travelling, antibiotics (which destroy both good and bad bacteria), too much stress, medications etc. attack the intestinal flora and soon compromise its balance.

Prebiotics

These usually consist of fibres which is also essential to a well-balanced flora as it provides nutrients for probiotics. These pass undigested into the colon and thus immediately provide nutrients for bacteria. Most of the beneficial effects claimed by prebiotics are associated with an improvement in intestinal and metabolic function, for example, such as the increased production of short-chain fatty acids, or increased faecal weight (thus facilitating intestinal transit). Studies have demonstrated that prebiotics such as FOS, when combined with probiotics, increase the quantity of Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli in the intestine, and inhibit certain potentially pathogenic bacteria. These beneficial effects on the intestinal flora have the following consequence: less flatulence and less disruption in intestinal transit. Artichoke, banana, garlic, peas, etc. are rich in prebiotics... consume without moderation!

Probiotics

What have recent studies shown?

Several studies conducted on human subjects demonstrate the capacity of probiotics or lactic acid bacteria (with or without prebiotics) to accelerate intestinal transit and stimulate peristalsis. In particular, some studies on Bifidobacteria have demonstrated their capacity to reduce intestinal transit time in healthy women and in the elderly. These effects are notably observed among individuals suffering from discomfort related to irregular intestinal transit.

How do probiotics act?

Probiotics or lactic acid bacteria act by modifying the balance of the microbial flora in the intestine via the production of short-chain fatty acids, thereby making the digestive process more effective overall. Short-chain fatty acids, produced by the bacterial flora, also reduce intestinal pH, which, in turn, can modify stool consistency while stimulating intestinal peristalsis. It is therefore worthwhile reducing the proportion of these methanogenic strains in the colon and promote non-methanogenic strains, such as Bifidobacteria, Lactobacillus and S. thermophilus, among individuals suffering from intestinal discomfort (flatulence, irregular or disrupted transit, bloating, etc.).

Review by Catherine, aged 46:

Every time I go on holiday, my intestines stop working! I thus take a small cube of Fruits&Fibres Fruits&Fibres throughout my holiday to help restore my normal rhythm. I then take probiotics for 10 days to avoid these episodes of irregular transit as far as possible.