I used to have very frequent serious gastrointestinal distress when I would run. Right about 30 min it would hit. I tried Activia for a while and it seemed to really help but it was sooo sugary (like most flavored yogurts are). Now I just take a pill of acididophilus or what ever it is (activia has their own type of this bacteria). I know there are a lot more probiotics out there and I haven't really looked into the others (or really read about acididophilus that much), but I no longer have to plan my runs around finding a restroom w/in 15 of any point in my run (or a wooded area where I could make a pit stop), so I'm happy with the probiotic I take. I bought it in the vitamin section of the local organic/health food store. I was going to start making my own yogurt (I used to do this and I really like plain yogurt) and add a wet version of Acididophilus (also from the health food store), but I haven't had time to look into it.

I sat in on a lunch presentation a few months ago by a woman (PhD.) representing the Dairymen of Idaho. She was presenting to a small group of nurse practioners about probiotics and it was quite interesting. She had some good statistics from Dannon, the makers of Activa, although she had no vested interest in Dannon, she thought the studies were compelling. I can't really remember any specific data, but the gist of it was probiotics=good. I typically never have any problems with my system's regularity, but she did state that if someone had "regular transit time" probiotics would not speed things up, you would just stay normal. If someone has "slow transit time" probiotics would help move things along.

I did end up trying Activa and felt really good. It is very sweet though and I prefer to use organic products. I have since just bought plain or vanilla yogart with active cultures.

Try it. Make a study of n=1 with yourself as the subject. It can't hurt.

I take Jarrow-Dophilis capsules once a week. They are awesome b/c they don't have to be refrigerated. I was seeing a naturopath for a while who recommended something called VSL#3 (http://www.vsl3.com/VSL3/default.asp), which I took for about a month. It definitely helped and is really high-powered. From what I know, probiotics should populate your gut with good bacteria and it's really not necessary to take something everyday once you establish good 'flora.'

Of course, I have a gluten issues on top of everything, so for me, eliminating gluten has been the key to getting rid of the bloating, 'runner's trots,' excess air, etc.

Acidophilus capsules were recommended by my nutritionist in December and it's made a big difference in a "number" of things for me. I always thought it was hype until I tried 'em for myself. I'm a believer.

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Team Sponsors: Rudy Project, Skratch Labs, Xterra

My sister is a biologist who "makes the bugs" as she puts it.

If you have any specific questions, I could forward them along and see if she has an answer or three....

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Breakfast is for Closers

I'm curious as to how my bacteria gets out of whack. Could it be all the antibiotics I took as a kid for ear infections and strep throat? Or, I'm a vegetarian so does that mean I'm not getting the bugs because I'm not consuming them in meat?

All very odd. I'm doing an experiment to see if they help my "issues" while running.

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Jen

"In order to keep a true perspective on one's importance, everyone should have a dog that worships him and a cat that will ignore him." - Dereke Bruce

I'm not so concerned about the gut issues, luckily (knock on wood) that's rarely an issue for me.

What I'm interested in is the effects on the immune system, especially as I seem to be constantly fighting off colds and flus for the past few months. The study I linked to in the original post sounds interesting but with only twenty subjects I'm wondering how much validity it has. I'd definitely be interested in hearing some educated feedback on it.

Thanks!

"I'm curious as to how my bacteria gets out of whack."
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If you swallow a lot of (Chlorinated) water in the pool, you may have a problem. Antibiotics and diarrhea can also cause issues.

Haim

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"Sometimes you need to think INSIDE the box!" -- ME
"Why squirrel hate me?"

This is the response I got from my sister this morning:

"
Howdy,
Oh, the wonderful world of bugs!!
Bugs off track......antibiotics would generally effect the bugs at the time
you are taking them, but I would think that they wouldn't effect you for
life.

Different bug work for different things. Bifidobacteria (as in Activia
also seen as BB-12 in other products) is good for intestinal health, and
therefore the movement of food/regularity.

L. casei supports immunity, a big chunk of your immune system functions out
of the gut (bet you didn't know that) so if you keep it happy, it will help
strengthen your immune system.

The other bug, L. acidophilus, is good for women, helps compete with yeast.
That is a big one that you see with antibiotics, if a woman is on
antibiotics they are at a greater chance of getting a yeast infection
because the drugs are also killing off some good bugs, leaving more
nutrients available for the yeast to over-grow.

But for most of these you have to take them regularly, kind of like a
vitamin for them to help you to the fullest.
Good luck!"

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Breakfast is for Closers

Great info! Thank her for us :-)

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Jen

"In order to keep a true perspective on one's importance, everyone should have a dog that worships him and a cat that will ignore him." - Dereke Bruce

My sister sent me this as a follow up...


Found this today...........


Study: Probiotics give endurance-athletes immune boost


02/22/2008

From Nutraingredients.com: Supplements of probiotics may boost the immune
health of long distance runners, protecting them from respiratory
illnesses, suggests a new study.



A daily probiotic capsule was found to enhance the activity of T cells
(key players in the immune system) report the researchers after following
20 elite endurance-athletes during four months of intensive winter
training.



"Our findings point to the potential benefits of this form of nutritional
intervention," wrote the authors led by David Pyne from the Australian
Institute of Sport.



The study is published online ahead of print in the British Journal of
Sports Medicine.



Friendly bacteria


The new study adds to the body of science by reporting that the 'friendly'
bacteria may also produce benefits in endurance athletes undergoing
strenuous training, previously reported to be more susceptible to upper
respiratory tract infection (URTI) linked to the role of strenuous
exercise in suppressing the immune system.


The number of days of symptoms of URTI was halved when the athletes took
the probiotic, compared to placebo. The severity of the symptoms was also
less when receiving probiotics, stated the researchers.



Major growth market


Probiotics remains a major growth market. The European sector is set to
more than triple in value over the next few years, according to the
business research and consulting firm Frost & Sullivan, to reach $137.9
million (€118.5m) in 2010.


(Embedded image moved to file: pic07075.jpg)

The new study comes at a time when consumers are increasingly aware of the
health benefits associated with probiotics, including improved intestinal
health and immune system stimulation.

The athletes were randomly assigned to receive either a daily probiotic
supplement or placebo.


After 28 days of receiving either the probiotic or placebo, they received
nothing for one month (washout period) before crossing over to the other
intervention.


By the end of the study all the athletes had each had the probiotic and
placebo formulations.

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Breakfast is for Closers

What is the difference (if there is any) between probiotics in the pill form versus say a kefir type yougurt........anyone know? Some of those yogurts can be pretty nasty to swallow.

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People I've loved, I have no regrets
Some I remember, some I forget
Some of them living, some of them dead
All I want is to be home ".....Foo Fighters, Home

Thanks so much, this is great info, it's nice to have someone simplify things.

The local pharmacy has a great pharmacist so I'll be asking about how to supplement with L. casei or something similar.