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Writer's pictureDr. Thomas J. Lewis

Refractory Gut? Oral vs. Rectal Probiotics

Microbiome Labs is arguably the top company supplying gut-optimizing supplements. Their flagship product is Megaspore. Spore is emphasized because they realize that organisms do not always make it through the strong acid of the stomach. Thus, they encapsulate the organisms in a spore that is resistant to the acid. I assume - but have not studied - that the spore is capable of releasing the organisms in the colon. What I can state is that people with real problematic guts do not see the benefit expected from oral probiotics, including Megaspore.


Within the last year, 5 different people asserted that rectal administration is a necessary delivery method for probiotics to be most effective. These folds are:

  1. Sabin Hasan: She asserts that oral fecal capsules are not that effective, although they were developed by her collaborator and father of fecal transplants, Dr. Thomas Borody.

  2. Dr. Dallas Hack: He is one of the most prestigious doctors no one knows. As a colonel in the military, he funded over 1,400 projects in brain health.

  3. A fecal transplant company: I cannot find the name of the company, but I talked to two of its scientists, and they indicated that rectal administration is preferred.

  4. Dr. Gamble: She was (and still is to some degree) a colon hydrotherapist. She told me that members of this profession routinely make probiotic suppositories with cocoa butter, then freeze them and deliver rectally.

  5. A client of mine - and Dr. Minkoff's - and neither of us to solve her long-term gut issues that were so severe that she left college. Below is her story of how she amalgamated a lot of information and treated herself. We encouraged her to get rectal fecal transplants but the cost was prohibitive. The process described below solved 4 years of misery.



I was just having trouble with the probiotics orally as I was experiencing some nausea. I just took 5-6 capsules each of Megaspore, Megagenesis, Restore Flora, Seed, Primal Defense, Megaprebiotic, Akkermansia, & Physician’s choice 60 billion… I think that’s all of them… & poured the powder into a little fleet enema bottle & added water only about 1/3-1/2 way full, did not refrigerate, shook it up, & inserted after a bowel movement or before bed. did this like every 3rd day for a month.


I should mention I took a product called Digestacure as well, but I did this for about 6 wks prior & I didn’t notice any positive changes until the probiotics. No adverse side effects doing them rectally.


I should also mention that I have fulvic acid here, the ion biome brand, butyrate, L glutamine, LDN, and gut peptides, but I never noticed any help with those. It was 100% the probiotics, and I never went through with the colonoscopy.

 

Here is information from different sources on the problems with oral administration and the benefits of rectal administration for gut issues.


While you can consume probiotics orally, using an enema places them directly into your colon. This prevents them from encountering stomach acid, which can kill 60 percent of probiotics.


Rectal administration of Lactobacillus casei DG modifies flora composition and Toll-like receptor expression in colonic mucosa of patients with mild ulcerative colitis.

Conclusions: Manipulation of mucosal microbiota by L. casei DG and its effects on the mucosal immune system seem to be required to mediate the beneficial activities of probiotics in UC patients.


Probiotic Gastrointestinal Transit and Colonization After Oral Administration: A Long Journey

Orally administered probiotics encounter various challenges on their journey through the mouth, stomach, intestine and colon. The health benefits of probiotics are diminished mainly due to the substantial reduction of viable probiotic bacteria under the harsh conditions in the gastrointestinal tract and the colonization resistance caused by commensal bacteria. In this review, we illustrate the factors affecting probiotic viability and their mucoadhesive properties through their journey in the gastrointestinal tract, including a discussion on various mucosadhesion-related proteins on the probiotic cell surface which facilitate colonization.


A new mode of probiotic therapy: Specific targeting

Highlights

• Luminal bacteria are inducers of inflammatory bowel disease.

• Rectal probiotics in colitis altered mucin and TLR mRNA expression close to control.

• Rectal probiotics almost eradicated tissue damage and were superior to oral route.

• Targeted introduction can increase the effect of probiotics.


GOOD ADVICE:

1. How long does it take for the probiotic to start working?


If taken rectally verses orally for some individuals they may notice a change in their presenting symptoms such as bloating, normality of bowel movements and less flatus ( gas) within a few days ( particularly if given rectally) . For others symptom relief can take longer even up to 3-4 weeks. Over time you may notice a change in your mood with less anxiety symptoms occurring if that was a concern for you.


The key is to make sure you are supporting your body with the daily intake of a oral probiotic and ensuring your daily diet contains prebiotic such as fermented foods, as prebiotics feed the good bacteria in your intestine. It also depends on what symptoms you have and if you have any underlying medical conditions and your general health.


2. How long does the effect of rectal probiotics for?


This can partially depend on the amount and species of bacteria you are given. It also depends on why you had the probiotic, if for general health then you can generally expect if you also implement supportive practices such as balanced diet and management of stress response that the body should colonised the bacteria given and keep exerting it’s effect for several months.


Everyone’s Large intestines is so different in its responses so it is a very individual measure.


You are may be able to tell that you need a top-up of probiotics if the symptoms you were originally using for a start appearing again. So some a dose of probiotic is a rapid fix for others with chronic condition it can take along time and patience but worth it in the end when you finally feel full of energy and happier in your mindset.


3. Should l take my oral probiotic after a rectal infusion?


It is best to let you body over the next week or so after rectal probiotics settle. More is not necessarily better. You may get some responses such as some bloating after a probiotic so it is better not to exacerbate your symptoms by taking more.


Moderation is always the best approach . If too much in frequency or volume is administered, some people may experience increased flatus, nausea, and bloating for a short time.


INTERESTING READ ON THE HISTORY OF PROBIOTICS

How Probiotics Affect the Microbiota


In the next blog on this topic, I will provide a complementary overview of compositions for gut health.

 

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