What are probiotics?

biokplus.com/en_ca/about-probiotics

Whether we’re still in our mother’s womb, a child or a

grown adult, consuming probiotics provides countless
benefits.

The World Health Organization defines them as follows: “ A

probiotic is a living micro-organism that, when ingested in
sufficient quantities, provides beneficial effects on the health of its
consumer”. In other words, probiotics, meaning “for life”, are the
good bacteria that are beneficial to our body, specifically for our digestive and immune
systems. Probiotics have a positive effect on our body and constantly interact with our
intestinal flora, also called the intestinal microbiota.

What is intestinal flora?

In order to understand the benefits of consuming probiotics daily, we must
first understand the importance of the intestinal flora, which represents all
bacteria, both good and bad, naturally found in our intestinal tract. Together,
these bacteria form a complex ecosystem that plays a major role in
maintaining our health.

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ACQUIRING BACTERIA1

First contact – Birth

In the mother’s womb, a baby’s intestines are deemed “sterile” and only upon birth are they
populated with their first batch of bacteria. In fact, bacteria are the first organisms we come in
contact with when we’re born, even before taking our first breath of air!

Studies have shown that the way a child is born has an impact on its intestinal flora.

Natural birth: Bacteria from the mother’s vaginal and intestinal flora are transferred to her
child. As a result, the first bacteria to populate its intestinal tract are lactobacilli and
bifidobacteria.

Caesarean section: Bacteria from the birthing environment, including air, medical staff and the
mother’s skin flora, are transmitted to the child. As a result, flora integration differs from
babies born naturally, and includes enterobacteria, staphylococcus and enterococcus.

INTERESTING FACT :
Babies born via Caesarean section are more susceptible to immune deficiencies.

The length of the pregnancy, the labour process, the environment in which the baby grows, its
diet and the medication it is giving, especially antibiotics, will greatly affect its intestinal flora’s
composition. Bacteria populations will increase and diversify; by age 2, it is said that a child’s
intestinal flora corresponds to that of an adult.

Intestinal flora is an organ in its own right and plays a key role in our life and
our bodily functions. That’s why we must take care of it.

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MATURE INTESTINAL FLORA2, 3

Contains 100,000 billion bacteria (good and bad).

Contains over 3 million microbial genes (microbial DNA), 150 times more than human
genes.
Over 1,000 species of bacteria have been catalogued from intestinal flora, but only 150
to 170 predominate in a given individual. There are many possible combinations and
some say we could be identified as much by our bacteria as by our DNA.
The entire intestinal flora can weigh up to 2 kg ! It takes up such an important part of our
body that it is often considered to be a distinct organ. As said flora is comprised of
microscopic bacteria, one can only imagine how many are needed to reach that weight!
Basically, we’re walking microbes!

(As said flora is comprised of microscopic bacteria, one can only imagine how many are needed to reach that weight!)
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INTESTINAL FLORA IS OUR SECOND BRAIN!
Intestinal flora fulfills multiple functions, and its bacteria are in constant communication with
our body’s cells; to the point that our intestinal flora is said to be our second brain! The
bacteria produce molecules that send signals to our intestinal cells; for example: we’re
missing this or you should produce more of this. This is referred to as cross-talk, a sort of
dialog between intestinal flora and the body’s cells. Bacteria can also be identified by our
immune system and, based on the signal received, bacteria are then directed to where they
would be the most effective. Bacteria are involved at all levels, which is why they are so
important to us.

Bacteria play three important roles4, 5, 6:

They are our digestive tract’s soldiers, preventing foreign substances (pathogens, toxins,
allergens) from coming through, thereby lowering infection and illness risks
They help digest food by processing it and producing new molecules (vitamins, enzymes,
fatty acids, etc.);
They help develop the immune system and intestinal lining, ensuring better protection.

INTERESTING FACT :
Nutritionists promote a varied diet as a way to stay healthy. As each type of food is
“supported” by its own bacteria, the more varied our diet is, the more protected we’ll be by our
intestinal flora 9.

What happens when our

intestinal flora is unbalanced?
When intestinal flora is unbalanced, the so-called “bad” bacteria take over,
which can lead to illness, infections, digestive issues, fatigue, depression, etc.

FACTORS AFFECTING
THE INTESTINAL FLORA

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Every day, our intestinal flora is disrupted by our diet, stress, medications (especially
antibiotics) and lifestyle. Sometimes, this is for the better, but other times for the worse, and
this is when problems happen7, 8.

INTERESTING FACT :
80% of the immune system’s cells are found in the intestinal tract, so it goes without saying
that your immune system can be thrown out of whack when your intestinal flora is unbalanced,
like during a round of antibiotics10!

As our intestinal flora can have repercussions on our health, it is important to keep it
diversified and balanced.

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 This is where probiotics come in!

How do probiotics affect

intestinal flora?

In competing with bad bacteria (pathogens), probiotics help boost the amount
of good bacteria throughout the intestinal tract, thereby contributing to the
maintenance of a balanced intestinal flora.

Through a modulation process, probiotics, beyond their own positive effects, help intestinal
flora fulfill its physiological functions.

Why choose
As shown in peer-reviewed clinical studies published in scientific journals, Bio-
K+® is a 100% probiotic product with proven benefits and effectiveness on
human health.

Besides helping to maintain a healthy intestinal flora, support intestinal

functions and the immune system, Bio-K+® is also known for the following
health claims:
Bio-K+ Strong/Antibiofix (50 billion) capsules: Helps reduce the risk of diarrhea due to
antibiotics and the risk of diarrhea due to Clostridium difficile in hospitalized patients.
This is the ONLY probiotic product in the WORLD to make such a claim!.
Based on sound clinical studies published in the most prestigious medical journals, such
as the American Journal of Gastroenterology, these claims confirm that Bio-K+ ® is a
safe product with proven results.
The bacterial concentration in Bio-K+® products is guaranteed upon consumption, rather
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 than on the manufacturing date, as is the case for many other probiotics on the market
(it’s always useful to know the exact amount of probiotics we’re ingesting!).

The company guarantees that its product goes through the entire digestive
tract
During the manufacturing process, the bacteria contained in Bio-K+ ® fresh products are
not processed, meaning they are still alive and maintain their intrinsic ability to resist
gastric acidity and bile salts. Moreover, the substrate (milk, soy, rice or pea and hemp)
provides both nourishments and additional protection.
Bio-K+ ® capsules ensure bacteria are protected and delivered efficiently. They each
feature targeted release technology – an enteric coating that ensures the bacteria’s
viability until they reach the intestines. As probiotic bacteria delivered in capsule form
are made vulnerable by the freeze-drying process (used to convert them to powder
form).The bacteria are greatly affected by the stomach’s acidity and bile salts.
Therefore, using the enterosoluble technology was a clear choice for the company.

The unique patented formula created by Bio-K+ ® (L. acidophilus CL1285 ®, L. casei LBC80R ®
and L. rhamnosus CLR2®) has been thoroughly studied, and its three bacteria have been proven
to be synergistic (lack of competition between them) and therefore, work more effectively
together.

Bio-K+ ® was created by a Québec-based company whose core priority is quality control.
Moreover, standardized manufacturing processes that comply with the pharmaceutical
industry’s good manufacturing practices. It ensures strict quality control to enable the
company to provide consumers with a high-quality product at all times.

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INTERESTING FACT :
A study of 17 probiotic products in capsule form has shown that products WITHOUT any
enteric coating did not survive their passage through the stomach11.

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REFERENCES :

Can. J. Microbiol.
Downloaded from www.nrcresearchpress.com by 173.179.120.188.
Qin et al. 2010.
A human gut microbial gene catalogue established by metagenomic sequencing. Nature. 464
(4):59-67.
Antolin et al. 2010.
Metagenomics of the intestinal microbiota: potential applications. Gastroenterol Clin Biol.
1:S23-S28.
Rastall et al. 2005.
Modulation of the microbial ecology of the human colon by probiotics, prebiotics and
synbiotics to enhance human health: An overview of enabling science and potential
applications. FEMS Microbiology Ecology. 52: 145-152.
2-Hogenauer et al. 1998.
Mechanisms and management of antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Clinical infectious disease.
27:702–710.
3-Kolida et al. 2006.
Gastrointestinal Microflora: Probiotics. Adv Appl Microbiol. 59:187-219.
Dethlefsen and Relman. 2010.
Incomplete recovery and individualized responses of the human distal gut... PNAS.
108(suppl1) : 4554- 4561.
Connolly et al, 2010.
In vitro evaluation of the microbiota modulation abilities of different sized whole oat...
Anaerobe 16 : 483- 488.
Danièle Festy.
Le grand livre des probiotiques et prébiotiques. 2014. Quotidien Malin Éditions.
Hooper and Macpherson, 2010.
Immune adaptation that maintain homeostasis with the intestinal microbiota. Nat rev
Immunol. 10(3):159-169.
Millette, M., et al. 2013.
Gastrointestinal survival of bacteria in commercial probiotic products. International Journal of
Probiotics & Prebiotics, 8(4):149-156.

Scientific studies

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