Given the serious consequences of unbalanced intestinal microflora, pathogenic bacterial populations need to constantly remain in check. Probiotics are high-dose supplements of live strains of good bacteria that are normally present in our GI, yet not at high enough concentrations to drive the desired degree of positive health outcomes, which help do just that through multiple mechanisms collectively known as antagonistic strategies [35, 36]. The first of these strategies is competing for space; since attachment to the mucosal layer of the GI tract is a prerequisite for bacterial colonization, probiotic strains compete for adhesion sites with pathogenic bacteria [37-39]. Competition over nutrients is another antagonistic strategy employed by probiotic strains to deprive their pathogenic counterparts of the required resources to survive [35, 38]. Several probiotic strains can also secrete antimicrobial compounds to slow down or even kill their unwelcome neighbors [40].
Two probiotic strains in particular have been clinically proven to reduce DNA damage and thereby lower colon cancer risk [41]. A 12-week randomized, double-blinded and placebo-controlled trial using the strains B. lactis and L. rhamnosus, which are also present in Entero-CR, has shown that daily probiotic supplementation in polypectomized patients results in a decrease in the levels of DNA damage biomarkers and thereby reduces colon cancer risk [41].
Such protective probiotics represent only 2 out of the 15 strains Entero-CR delivers in every capsule, each of which has been carefully selected for its proven health benefits. Another example is L. acidophilus, a strain which has been successfully employed in the treatment of digestive disorders such as diarrhea – acute, chronic and antibiotic-associated [42]. A further example is the genus Bifidobacterium, of which Entero-CR includes 5 different strains, a main component of the gut microbiota that has widely-reported immune-modulatory effects. Among such effects are protection against chronic inflammation and treatment of GI inflammatory diseases such as Ulcerative Colitis (UC) [43].
Despite the focus of vast research efforts on the benefits of probiotics in ameliorating conditions of patients harboring a subset of diseases, such as gut-related disorders, data shows that probiotic supplementation in healthy adults also has positive health outcomes such as improved gut microflora. Enhanced microbiota balance induced by probiotics, however, is transient, and thereby requires continuous supplementation in order to be maintained [44].
This, combined with the knowledge that probiotics are considered safe and well-tolerated when used according to the product instructions, forms a strong argument in favor of their use in both preventative and symptomatic cases. This is especially the case for Entero-CR, since it carries a high-potency dose of the carefully curated 15-strain blend for maximum support.