Lactobacillus GG: A Potent Immune Regulator Effective in Many Disorders

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New Research Reveals Probiotic’s Anti-Toxin, Anti-Inflammatory, Immune Boosting Properties

Lactobacillus GG is the most prolifically researched probiotic in the world—over 400 studies have been published that document its remarkable immune-modulating properties.This unique immunobiotic was isolated from a healthy human in 1985 by a team of two Tufts University researchers,Barry Goldin, M.S., Ph.D. and Sherwood L. Gorbach, M.D. They spent nearly a decade testing organisms until they discovered one that was a potent antimicrobial, survived stomach and bile acid, and was very, very sticky—it adhered well to the gut mucosa.

Naming the organism Lactobacillus GG, after the first initials of their last names, Goldin reports that the organism was unique in the “white, almost milky creamy colonies it would form, probably because of a polysaccharide in the cell wall.” LGG continues to be studied around the world—from Florida to China, Korea to Germany, Finland to Australia, Boston to Italy. In the last two years alone researchers have uncovered new benefits of this probiotic strain far beyond digestive health, as well as deciphering the mechanisms by which this hardy organism inhibits pathogens and their toxins, and helps restore and re-set immune function. Like the Vitamin C of probiotics, Lactobacillus GG is both the most researched and most trusted, safe, effective immune-boosting probiotic we know of.

New Research on Preventing Diarrhea

In 1987, Goldin, Gorbach and their colleague Chang published a study in The Lancet entitled “Successful treatment of relapsing Clostridium difficile colitis with Lactobacillus GG.” Chang, a virologist at Tufts who had recently isolated the infamously destructive toxin of C. difficile—the bacteria that causes a devastating and often recurrent diarrhea—gave the super probiotic strain to suffering patients after a course of antibiotics, and relapses were prevented.

That study was the first proof that this unique organism could benefit human health. The work on this unique immunobiotic and E. coli continues, and in 2008 a study of a strain of E. coli that triggers acute diarrhea, gut hemorrhages and hemolytic uremia, found that the probiotic prevents E. coli from causing destructive changes to tissue. The study showed that pretreatment with LGG diminished the number of lesions and reduced the permeability of the gut mucosal cells. Only the live organism worked; heat-inactivated organisms were not effective.

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LGG has also proven effective in combating many other troubling gut pathogens. This probiotic inhibits Clostridium, Bacteroides, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus and Entereobacteria—yet does not inhibit other beneficial Lactobacilli.

A 2008 study of 559 children showed that this strain of Lactobacillus significantly lowered the frequency and duration of acute infectious diarrhea, as well as the requirement for intravenous therapy and hospital stays. A 2009 Taiwan study found that the organism inhibits the shedding of rotavirus in fecal samples from infected children.

Adults with gut infections fare well with LGG also. LGG proved effective in five meta-analyses of probiotic trials analysed at Tufts-New England Medical Medical Center in 2008; the largest analysis looked at 2810 subjects in 25 randomised, controlled trials. Tufts researchers found that this particular strain of Lactobacillus—as well as Saccharomyces boulardii—helped prevent antibiotic-associated diarrhea. And a 2007 study from Poland looked at eight randomised, controlled trials involving nearly 1000 individuals. LGG was associated with a significant reduction in the duration of diarrhea. In addition this probiotic reduced diarrhea associated with chemotherapy for colorectal cancer, according to a 2007 study from Helsinki University Department of Oncology.

LGG Prevents Many Infections And Autoimmune Conditions

Lactobacillus rhamnosus heals more than the gut in infants and young children. It helps prevent eczema. When pregnant mothers take LGG, their newborns have less eczema. LGG can reduce atopic dermatitis in those newborns, as well as reduce the risk of allergy by half when given to expectant mothers and then to infants in their first six months of life. A 2009 study from Germany found that newborns treated with LGG had half the rate of atopic dermatitis.

This remarkable immunobiotic can also help prevent ear infections in infants. A 2008 Finnish study of infants requiring formula before the age of 2 months were given LGG and Bidifobacterium, or placebo, daily until they were a year old. During the first seven months, 22% of infants receiving probiotics had an ear infection compared to 50% receiving placebo. Antibiotics were prescribed for 31% of infants on probiotics and double that—60%—on placebo. The researchers conclude that LGG and Bifidobacterium “offer a safe means of reducing the risk of early acute otitis media and antibiotic use…during the first year of life.”

Lactobacillus rhamnosus may be able to prevent strep throat. A fascinating 2009 study from Italy found that the invasive capacity of eight strains of group A Streptococci (GAS)—all resistant to Erythromycin—was significantly inhibited by LGG, both live and heat-killed. The researchers studied human respiratory cells and concluded that the probiotic might be able to prevent strep throat infections. It has also cleared nasal passages in guinea pigs with allergic rhinitis.

Lactobacillus rhamnosus reduces arthritis— perhaps because allergic disorders involve perturbed skin and gut mucosa and dysregulation of the immune response, according to researchers at Finland’s University of Turku. In a 2008 report they show that elimination diets and environmental changes are not effective enough in allergy, and perhaps establishing a healthy gut microbiota is equally important.

This Lactobacillus strain, taken orally, along with other probiotics, actually reduces the amount of Staphylococcus aureus and beta-hemolytic streptococci in the nasal passages of humans. Yet the probiotics themselves do not colonise the nose. That suggests that LGG truly does have a body-wide immune-boosting effect.

Lactobacillus GG denatures toxins, decreases the inflammatory response, and produces peptides that balance the immune response while limiting the destructive potential of many pathogens.

 

Lactobacillus rhamnosus can help a liver damaged by alcohol. Only 30% of alcoholics develop alcoholic liver disease, and research suggests that bacterial endotoxins may be another key factor. In a 2009 study from Rush University Medical Center, animals fed alcohol plus this particular probiotic had significantly less severe liver damage (alcoholic steatohepatitis) than those fed alcohol alone. The probiotic “reduced alcohol induced gut leakiness and significantly blunted alcohol-induced oxidative stress and inflammation in both intestines and the liver” the researchers conclude.

Though these results are impressive, a deeper look at how this remarkable immunobiotic—with its antimicrobial and super adhesion ability—works its mucosal magic gives us profound insight into its other, body-wide health benefits. This immunobiotic denatures toxins, decreases the inflammatory response, and produces peptides that balance the immune response while limiting the destructive potential of many pathogens.

How Does Lactobacillus rhamnosus Work?

Lactobacillus rhamnosus has remarkable effects on inflammation and infection. Research shows that it is able to significantly blunt the amounts of inflammatory cytokines that pathogenic bacteria seem to trigger—such as TNF-alpha, interleukins, and myeloperoxidase. Remarkably, it downregulates inflammation not only in the gut, but in the intestine, liver, lung and blood. It also seems to reduce the invasive capacity of bacteria. As a result, it can be highly beneficial in a variety of inflammatory diseases and infections.

Lactobacillus rhamnosus suppresses inflammatory molecules triggered by E. coli infections. A 2009 study from Japan studied the mechanism by which the probiotic may work. While E. coli triggered inflammatory chemokines (measured by PCR), Lactobacillus rhamnosus “significantly suppressed” them. The researchers suggest that the probiotic does this by suppressing specific inflammatory pathways.

Lactobacillus rhamnosus even seems to be able to remove toxins from solution. A 2008 study of this particular strain of Lactobacillus along with other probiotics looked at the peptide toxins from cyanobacteria. LGG and Bifido bacterium strains were studied. This unique probiotic was able to remove between 60 and 78 percent of three specific toxins. Toxins could be removed simultaneously by the probiotic, and researchers found that a combination of probiotics enhanced their removal ability. This fascinating study suggests that one mechanism by which Lactobacillus rhamnosus heals the gut and the immune system is by actually binding or denaturing bacterial toxins.

Lactobacillus rhamnosus Alters The Immune Response

Pathogens harm by invading tissue, releasing endotoxins, and stimulating a marked immune response which releases a flood of inflammatory molecules. Immunobiotics limit a pathogen’s ability to invade as well as damage our own cells, and they help reduce our inflammatory response, leading to an overall balance that is far healthier. There is much new evidence that this probiotic is a very effective immunobiotic, one that helps regulate our own immune response.

A 2009 animal study found that this unique organism is able to lessen the damaging response of T and B cells to the pathogen Campylobacter jejuni in mice. Another 2008 study found that it can actually restore the liver enzyme alkaline phosphatase in cells damaged by the potent mycotoxin deoxynivalenol.

Lactobacillus rhamnosus helps limit the runaway inflammatory response in our body. NF-Kappa B is a key molecule that regulates the entire inflammatory cascade. Amazingly, Lactobacillus rhamnosus seems to be able to quiet the gene that transcribes and regulates production of NF-Kappa B. This remarkable finding is from a 2008 study from South Korea. Cells in culture were stimulated so that they would release the inflammatory cytokine IL-8. Pretreatment of cells with this immunobiotic significantly inhibited IL-8 production. Even more importantly, the organism actually worked to quiet both the genes that help regulate IL-8 and NF-Kappa B. This means that Lactobacillus rhamnosus may be working at the very deep and fundamental level of gene activity and transcription, in part by inhibiting the NF-Kappa B signaling pathway.

Lactobacillus rhamnosus may help our gut mucosa defend itself by promoting protective responses, according to a 2008 study from Emory University. This research found that Lactobacillus rhamnosus reduced cell death in vitro and when given to live animals. The scientists used DNA microarray analysis to prove the protective effects on cells. This kind of cell death may be a precursor to a potentially deadly condition seen in premature infants, where part of the bowel dies, and sometimes the infant dies as well.

Lactobacillus rhamnosus may augment first-line defense secretory IgA responses. SIgA is a first line of defense for all mucosa in the body. A 2008 study on birch pollen allergy from Finland looked at the oral immune response in individuals with birch pollen allergy. Thirty-eight individuals received either Lactobacillus rhamnosus or placebo for 10 weeks before birch pollen season. SIgA in saliva was measured before, during, and after the pollen season and those who took LGG had increased SIgA levels.

Lactobacillus rhamnosus proteins heal the gut lining. Two proteins produced by LGG promote “epithelial integrity”, according to a 2008 study from the University of Tennessee. Researchers looked at two unique Lactobacillus proteins, p40 and p75, and found that treating cells with these proteins helped prevent oxidative damage and permeability.

Lactobacillus rhamnosus and other immunobiotics may activate specific T-cells (“Peyer’s patch”) according to a review by Robert Clancy of Royal Newcastle Hospital in Australia. This may be how oral consumption of this immunobiotic helps protect against infection and inflammation as far away as the nose, ears, skin, lung or urinary tract. Specific IgE is reduced when consuming immunobiotics, and animal studies have shown protection against bronchial infection with H. influenza and Candida. As Clancy concludes “to continue to use the term ‘probiotic’ for those bacteria which promote health…would appear outmoded and out of step with contemporary thinking and potentially confusing.”

It Actively Restores Immune Balance
Lactobacillus rhamnosus, with its antimicrobial and immune-regulating ability, along with its extremely sticky, adhesive properties, offers an entirely new therapeutic strategy for combating allergic and infectious disease. Our gut microbiota have a powerful ability to prime immune regulation. From the moment we’re born, our immune system is regulated by our flora—which in turn is influenced by everything from our mothers’ microbiota, the mode of delivery (vaginal, which colonizes the baby with Lactobacilli; or caesarean, which does not), whether we are breast or bottle fed, and our diet and environment. Diet directly influences the diversity of the microbiota. Host-microbe cross talk is key to maintaining immune tolerance and effectiveness.

Extracted from Focus Newsletter September 2009

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14 Comments. Leave new

  • Anika Weightman
    October 20, 2009 10:54 am

    I found this article very interesting. I suffer from eczema and food intolerances, and also suspect I have permeability of the small intestine. As well as avoiding the offending foods, I wish to try a good probiotic and see if this will help as well. Where can I buy Culturelle in the UK?
    I am also looking to help my dad who has chronic diarrhoea which the medics have not found the cause of.

    Ps The article start talking about LGG and then Lactobacillus rhamnosus, am I right in assuming they are the same.

    Anika Weightman, Student of Diploma in Nutritional Therapy

    Reply
    • Hi Anika

      Nutri-Link Ltd on 08450 760 402 will assist your request.

      Whilst the use of this probiotic LGG (L.rhamnosus) has had numerous studies on its effect on the frequency and severity of eczema- they are focussed on the paediatric population. There are of course valid clinical reasons to use this strain in adults but it would be unlikely to be effective on its own (depends on amongst other things: age, duration, severity, history of antibiotic use, food reactivity, presence of a pathogen either current or in the past). The inclusion of Saccharomyces Boulardii has numerous benefits including the reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines, reduction in gut permeability and increased SIgA amongst others. The use of essential fatty acids to increase Treg populations, provide some control over inflammation and support skin health is also helpful.

      For your father with idiopathic diahorrea the use of Sacharromyces Boulardii at 2-4 capsules per day has been employed in conditions linked to gastrointestinal inflammation and infections. It can be used on its own or in conjunction with LGG.

      Segarra-Newnham M.Ann Probiotics for Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea: focus on Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Saccharomyces boulardii.Pharmacother. 2007 Jul;41(7):1212-21. Epub 2007 Jun 26. View Abstract

      Michael

      Reply
  • Hi,
    We are living in the UK.
    My child is suffering from severe eczema. I would like to try on Culturelle as I heard LGG could help. However, I understand that there is no company producing Culturelle in the UK, so I would need to get the product from the US. I have heard that when Culturelle is to ship from the US or other countries outside the UK, LGG would have all died when the products go through custom scans at the border before the products are able to enter the UK. This is to make sure there won’t be bacteria from outside UK to enter the country. Accordingly, the Culturelle we bought from US or other countries outside the UK would not be effective as LGG in the box would have dead by the time they reached me. How true is this?

    Reply
    • Hi Jun
      I am sorry to hear that you have a child with severe eczema. Culturelle may well be a sensible suggestion for your home treatment, but I also recommend that you seek the guidance of a suitable Nutritional Therapist experienced in the management of the mucosal immune system, as a single intervention is unlikely to result in successful resolution. There are numerous articles on this web site aimed at explaining some of the interconnectedness between the gastrointestinal tract and allergies including eczema. This referenced case study will provide some of the concepts and strategies in a simplified format: http://tinyurl.com/2vk2u22

      As to your question – in simple terms there is no problem with utilising LGG Culturelle from sources that may have involved imaging machines during transportation. The LGG strain is grown in Northern Europe and is exported to countries around the world where researchers then explore its role in health. It is the most researched probiotic in the world.

      The organisms are guaranteed to have a minimum of 30billion CFUs at time of consumption and have a very low drop off during their allocated shelf life. In the same way when you have a chest X ray you do not destroy all of your bacteria, the far lower exposure to radiation as and when they actually do it does not kill the probiotics.

      Best wishes
      Michael

      Reply
  • I have been taking this Culturelle product for about 6 month and wow….. what a change it has made in my body.
    Suffered from frequent bouts of eczema prior to taking this and now……. maybe only a flare up every few weeks. May not seem so impressive to some, but trust me, it’s a marked improvement. And besides that…… my gut is calming down. The diarrhea has stopped and the weekly cramps have nearly ceased. I feel very VERY fortunate to have stumbled onto this product. And no I am not being paid by anyone to promote Culturelle.

    Reply
  • I have been using Culturelle for over a year and I cannot believe how well I feel and how many health problems have calmed down or are no longer an issue. I did stop taking it for a month and I had some issues come back, stomach issues and sinus. I am back on it again and felt a shift right away but something else I am trying is this. I opened a capsule and added it to a teaspoon of aloe vera and put it in a little dark brown jar. I am swabbing the inside of my nose with it at night and in the morning. I have been doing this for 2 days now and I am going to see if that helps with this sinus issue I am having. I suffer from post nasal drip and coughing phlem and I am hoping it stops this all together. I will post back and let you know how it is going. Other than that I have recommend this product to many and I am not paid to say this in any way.

    Reply
  • I have vitiligo.is LGG safe for me?

    Reply
  • Please update us Wendy on sinuses.

    Reply
    • Melissa and Wendy
      Sinus infection and issues are mainly caused by fungal infections or mold toxicity.
      Maybe look up mold toxicity symptoms ( which are so varied and not everyone gets them )
      If you have any damp or mold in your house or workplace then you need to get it sorted somehow.
      In general most drs don’t believe in mold sickness or toxicity so especially in the UK there’s little help but there’s a lot online and YouTube and there are lots of therapists who know this problem well and treat it If it’s an issue.
      I came from a moldy house and was sick there for many years with a plethora of unexplained symptoms.
      Not everyone gets sick from mold … but whether it’s Candida overgrowth in the gut or environmental mold sources they’ll cause sinus infections, post nasal drip etc for sure.

      Reply
  • Good afternoon ..I have ulcerative colitis and 6 years before I had to remove the large intestine .. my problem is that at regular intervals I get infections so I have more gastric emptying and more gas activity in my abdomen.Is LACTOBACILLUS GG going to help me?

    Reply
    • Hi Antony.

      please keep in mind that other factors apart from LGG may also impart benefit, avoiding stress, avoiding reactive foods and spices, maintaing suitable fibre intake, limiting caffeine and alcohol.

      Howver, Lactobacillus GG seems to be effective and safe for maintaining remission in patients with ulcerative colitis, and it could represent a good therapeutic option for preventing relapse in this group of patients.

      Reply
  • It is great blog post. Helpful and Informative blog. I like it. Thanks for sharing these information with us.

    Reply
  • Hello, I would like some advice please. I was recently diagnosed with dysbiosis. The lab recommended the antibiotic, Trimethoprim/Sulfa which I took for a week. I feel better but not 100%. I’m currently taking a probiotic supplement of lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum with 25 billion cf units. However, I’m still experiencing gas discomfort. Also, I had several food intolerances including lactose and I’m still experiencing reactions if I eat certain foods. The reactions are diarrhoea and really itchy red eczema/rash. So my question is , did the antibiotics fully clear out the dysbiosis or should I just persevere with the probiotic course as above? The potential pathogens overgrowing in my gut were /are Hafnia alvei and Enterobacter cloacae. Also, no growth of Lactobacillus spp was detected! Hence, my choice of supplement. I would be so grateful if you could give me some advice because it is now over a year since these symptoms began and I am now quite despondent. Many thanks.

    Reply
    • Dear Patsy

      Very sorry to learn of your ongoing battle with a dysbiotic gut. As you will appreciate we cannot offer personal consultations via our web site, but if you are seeking professional help, I suggest you consider searching the BANT site https://practitioner-search.bant.org.uk/ and look for practitioners who have undertaken functional medicine training.

      To offer you some supportive comments, I have responded as per below.

      Dysbiosis can occur in all wet tissues, where a mix of commensal organism develops from an early childhood development phase into a more stable adult phase.

      Many events can cause a change in this combination to the detriment of the host – you!

      Medications, especially antibiotics, but others as well, diet, injury, stress, exercise and recreational drugs.

      Managing a return to eubiosis tends to vary depending on the cause, and general health and age and duration.

      Antibiotics, can sometimes help to reset the gut but other times can make it worse.

      Stool tests can help but have limitations.

      Progressive changes to the diet and careful use of pre and post biotics as well as selected probiotics can also assist.

      Food reactivity nay be an enzyme deficiency such as lactase in your case as well as specific immune responses, again this is an area that an experienced practitioner may be able to assist you with.

      I I have written before about the use of stewed apples and associated elements – consider that this may offer a starting point in your recovery.

      https://www.clinicaleducation.org/resources/reviews/is-this-a-perfect-functional-meal-for-mucosal-tolerance/

      Best wishes

      Michael Ash DO. ND. BSc. RNT
      Managing Director

      Reply

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