What are bifidobacteria used for? The content of bifidobacteria is low: what to do? Infants have lowered bifidobacteria

The normal balance of microbes in the gastrointestinal tract is a pledge of well-being and health. The bulk of the body's microflora is bifidobacteria. Is their content in the intestine low? This is not fatal in the short term, but problems with well-being will increase. If we neglect the principles of healthy and rational nutrition, then an unfavorable environment is created for the bifidobacteria in the intestine. Their number decreases. A vacant place is occupied by other species, and often they are not very friendly "get along" with the body.

Useful bacteria

Microorganisms enter the gastrointestinal tract with water and food. The whole microflora present in the intestinal tract of a person is divided into two groups. The first include microbes that provide metabolic processes. That is, they must necessarily be present in a certain amount. Such bacteria are called obligate: bifido- and lactobacilli, E. coli. This includes microorganisms that do not play a significant role in the activity of vital systems (bacteroides, enterococci), but their presence does not harm a person.

What is the danger for the body of a low number of bifidobacteria? Of the total number of microbes in the intestine, the obligate microflora should account for 95-97%. If the analysis shows that the amount of bifidobacteria is significantly reduced, it means that their place was taken by other species. And if it is not an E. coli or other friendly or neutral forms, then one should expect problems. Constipation, diarrhea, allergy, reducing the body's defenses - this is not a complete list of possible troubles.

Pathogenic microflora

Another group is microorganisms of facultative type. They are divided into two groups, depending on the "harmfulness". Pathogenic forms can cause harm only with one of their presence. The greatest danger is caused by pathogens of dysentery and typhus (salmonella and shigella).

Conditionally pathogenic microbes can cause harm to the body in the presence of certain factors that contribute to their excessive reproduction or associated with a weakening of the protective functions of the body. Among such flora are isolated klebsiella and clostridia, which may not bear harm in a small amount, and such which in the body (especially children's) should not be (staphylococci, fungi Candida, proteus).

Despite the fact that the human body and microbes live in symbiosis, that is, they receive mutual benefit, such a "friendly neighborhood" is possible only if the strict quantitative ratio of the obligate and facultative form of microflora is observed. Disturbance of balance, when bifidobacteria are lowered, usually leads to digestion disorders. If the problem is not solved, clinical manifestations of intestinal infections are possible.

Bifidobacteria

These microorganisms were first isolated in 1899. 30 types of bifidobacteria are known today. These Gram-positive curved rod-shaped microbes have a size of up to 5 μm, and colon colon. Located on the walls of the intestine, they play the role of a shield and prevent contact with it of pathogenic microflora. The total number of these bacteria can normally reach 10 ⁸ - 10 ¹¹ per 1 g of stool.

Being the dominant microflora in a healthy person, they provide the processes of protein and fat metabolism, participate in the regulation of mineral metabolism, the synthesis of vitamins B and K.

In addition to their basic duties, these microorganisms are active against pathogenic strains, producing specific organic acids of antimicrobial action. A reduced amount of bifidobacteria can cause enzymatic, metabolic and antitoxic dysfunction, as well as a violation of colonization resistance and an immune response to a pathogenic microflora. Bifidobacteria improve the fermentation of food, enhancing protein hydrolysis, participate in saponification of fats, fermentation of carbohydrates, resorption of cellulose. Their merit in the normal peristalsis of the intestine, and this is timely and stable evacuation of digestive products.

Analysis

The lowered content of bifidobacteria in feces is most often determined by the study of the intestinal microflora in case of suspected dysbacteriosis. This analysis is not widely used in routine medical practice due to the length and complexity of its conduct on the basis of polyclinic departments.

To obtain accurate analysis results, it is necessary to ensure fast delivery of stool (no more than 3 hours) in a sterile container to the laboratory. The collected biomaterial (10 g) is preferably cooled, but can not be frozen. Enemas and preparations with barium can not be used. Reception of antibiotics should be stopped 12 hours before collection. Also, a few days before the analysis, stop using laxatives and rectal suppositories.

Usually it takes about a week to count the number of microbes. During this time, the contents of the container, sown on a nutrient medium under the conditions of a thermostat, germinate, and the expert counts colonies of bacteria.

Explanation of results

Determine the amount and ratio of useful and hostile microorganisms. First of all, the graph is filled with a graph of pathogenic forms of microbes (salmonella, shigella) - they should not be at all. Further obligatory results of the amount of bifido-, lactobacillus and Escherichia coli go, and also their ratio in the total number is calculated.

Depending on the age, sex and various factors, the doctor who referred to the analysis gives an interpretation of the results. The main indicator is bifidobacteria. Reduced the content of these microorganisms in the presence of dysbiosis (dysbiosis). The diagnosis is made on the basis of comparing the normative indicators with the actual ones. If necessary, corrections are made taking into account the specific features of the clinical manifestations of the disease and the presence of various predisposing factors.

Lactobacilli

These microorganisms are representatives of gram-positive anaerobic flora of the intestine. Together with bifidobacteria they provide normal digestion and protective functions. In the total mass of the microflora of the body, they account for up to 5%. The increase in the number of lactobacilli in the analyzes is not a serious imbalance. Often this happens with the predominance of sour-milk products in the diet. It is much worse when in the analysis of bifidobacteria and lactobacillus are lowered.

Developing medicines containing live bacterial cultures (probiotics), scientists try to stick to the ratio. Normally, the balance between bifido- and lactoflora should be within 9: 1. Such a ratio, according to experts, will provide optimal conditions for the development of both cultures.

Lactobacilli in most cases do not show pathogenicity, but on the contrary, they participate in the metabolic processes necessary for the body. They produce lactic acid from lactose and other carbohydrates, which is a necessary condition for normal digestion and a barrier to pathogenic microflora. They also synthesize microelements, participate in the decomposition of indigestible plant foods. Unlike bifidobacteria, which colonize mainly the large intestine, lactobacilli is present in other parts of the digestive tract.

Immunity

The ability of the body to resist infections depends largely on the state of the intestinal microflora. Most of the immune cells are concentrated there. Genetic predisposition and antibodies acquired after vaccination or transferred diseases can not provide a sufficient level of body protection. It is the intestinal microflora that sets the tone for well-being. From this it follows that a lower content of bifidobacteria will adversely affect immunity.

This condition is especially dangerous with a significant decrease in the amount of normoflora. There are lumens on the inner surface of the large intestine. Access to its cells opens. With adverse factors (lesions, ulcers), microorganisms inhabiting the intestinal tract can spread beyond its limits. The result may be the entry into the circulatory system of pathogenic bacteria that can cause inflammation in other organs. The extreme degree of such pathology - sepsis - leads to a lethal outcome.

Research scientists increasingly confirm the relationship of imbalance of microflora with the development of diabetes mellitus, anemia, atherosclerosis, cancer and even obesity. The main problem is bifidobacteria. Their content in the intestine is lower - this is a catalyst. Immediately there is a dysbacteriosis, the immune response of the body is late or weak. In the absence of correction, the underlying disease develops. Against this background, secondary infection develops (frequent catarrhal diseases of a viral nature), accompanying visible problems (allergies, dermatitis), delay in growth and development, decrease in muscle mass and body weight.

Dysbacteriosis

This pathology occurs when not just bifidobacteria are lowered, but there is a tendency to the fact that the pathogenic microflora begins to predominate over normal. Such a dysbacteriosis is called true. It does not arise spontaneously.

The initial stage characterizing the presence of progressive dysbiosis is a persistent increase in the number of ballast bacteria (E. coli with weak enzymatic activity, enterococci). They start to develop because the main culture disappears. In addition to infections in the intestine, the cause can be in frequent antibiotic use without further correction or inappropriate (unreasonable) nutrition.

Dysbacteriosis in newborns can be transient (temporary), when due to various factors (prematurity of infants, weakening of the body after difficult births) there is a violation of the normal cycle or development. After stabilization of the condition, as a rule, by the end of the second week, the normoflora is restored.

Treatment of dysbiosis

When setting such a diagnosis, the patient should be treated in two stages. Reduced bifidobacter can be restored if the growth of opportunistic pathogenic microflora is suppressed. This can be done in several ways: antibiotics, intestinal antiseptics and immunopreparations containing bacteriophages capable of selectively absorbing and neutralizing pathogenic microbes inside themselves.

For the colonization of the bifido- and lactobacilli in the intestine, probiotics are usually used - preparations containing a living culture of beneficial microorganisms. Treatment should be started as soon as possible. Delay with correction of the microflora balance can be expensive for the body: constipation, diarrhea, anemia, gastritis, arthritis, duodenitis, malignant neoplasms of the intestine.

In order to protect yourself as much as possible, it is important to eliminate stress, beriberi, alcohol, overeating, when normal fermentation of incoming food is disturbed. We should not forget about the influence of age, seasonal and climatic factors.

Bifidobacteria decreased in children

What if the analysis of feces for dysbiosis gave disappointing results? The first thing that begs - to review the diet and the quality of food. Most of the problems are related to this. If there are complicating factors - antibiotics, radiation therapy, consequences of the transferred illness, stress, fatigue - then, if possible, minimize their influence.

Further it is necessary to introduce into the body bifidobacteria. Reduced content to 10 ⁶ or less? This gives reason to believe that against the background of dysbiosis the conditionally pathogenic microflora has developed. The results of the analysis, as a rule, show which unwanted microorganisms should firstly be neutralized and dislodged from the intestine.

Incidentally, the child's diet regime needs to be adjusted: a rigid schedule of food intake, elimination of unwanted foods (sweets, canned food, semi-finished products, smoked products). More natural products: vegetables, fruits, nuts, sour-milk products.

If the infants have lowered bifidobacteria

In newborns, the main process of forming the intestinal microflora begins with the first portions of the colostrum of the mother. The baby appears sterile to the light. In the delivery room he comes into contact with foreign bacteria. On how quickly the baby can access the mother's breast, much depends. Ideally, it's minutes (up to an hour). A longer delay caused by different causes (heavy birth, cesarean section, weakened or premature baby) will inevitably affect the health of the baby.

Mother's milk is an ideal source of bifido- and lactobacilli. Eliminating the negative factors, breast nutrition will quickly restore the necessary balance. Another thing is when bifidobacteria are lowered in the baby, and he for one reason or another can not take mother's milk.

Because of unformed immunity, the dysbiosis that has arisen, caused at first sight by common factors (teething, grafting, hypothermia), can become uncompensated. You can not leave such a malfunction on your own, you need a comprehensive treatment based on the results of the analysis.

If the child can not receive milk from the mother, it is necessary to give preference to the mixtures, adapted not only for a specific age category, but also containing live cultures of beneficial bacteria. Such compositions are enriched with protective factors, they include prebiotics, which create conditions for the good survival of microflora in the intestines of infants.

Probiotics

In situations where the result of analysis shows decreased bifidobacteria, and there is a need to quickly increase their concentration in the intestine, drugs with live cultures of beneficial microbes are used. There are liquid bacterial concentrates in active form and dried freeze dried or freeze-dried masses. The first begin to act immediately after ingestion. Another group is the microorganisms in the anabiosis, getting into the digestive tract, the activity manifests after a certain time (the passage of the large intestine).

Preparations of useful microflora may contain one culture (monoprobiotics) or several different strains of bacteria (associated). In a separate group, there are synbiotics - complex preparations containing the basic culture and a set of biologically active substances that promote the fixation of bacteria in the body (probiotic + prebiotic).

Reduced bifidobacteria - not a sentence. What preparation to buy, to solve to parents after the advisory opinion of the expert. There are plenty to choose from: Linex, Lactiale, Bifidumbacterin, Acilact, Lactomun and other worthy representatives of biologically active food additives.