Probiotics play an important role in overall health. An unhealthy intestinal tract can interfere with the health of your immune system, heart, and brain. Learn more about how to get the most from probiotic support in this video, and check out some of the latest research findings on probiotics below:

Less inflammation, insulin resistance

People with type 2 diabetes may develop a bacterial imbalance in the gut that can allow a type of toxin, LPS endotoxin, to leak into the bloodstream, creating systemic inflammation. In this study, 61 adults with type 2 diabetes took a placebo or combined several probiotic strains of lactobacillus and bifidobacterium for a total of five-billion colony-forming-units per day.

After six months, while the placebo group had not changed, those taking probiotics saw a nearly 70 percent decrease in circulating endotoxin levels compared to the start of the study. Also, several signs of inflammation: tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-6, and C-reactive protein, declined between 53 and 77 percent.

The probiotics group also saw a 38 percent drop in glucose and insulin levels, and a 64 percent decrease in insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Triglycerides declined 48 percent, total cholesterol dropped 19 percent, and the ratio of HDL, the “good” cholesterol, to total cholesterol, increased.

Doctors said the significant improvements in insulin resistance, inflammation, and lipid profiles in type 2 diabetes suggest multi-strain probiotics may be an effective anti-diabetes therapy.

Reference: Clinical Nutrition Journal; 2018, 31351-7; Published Online

Article copyright 2020 by Natural Insights for Well Being. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

Video copyright 2020 by Betsy’s Health Foods, Inc. All rights reserved.

BetsyHealth Note: Our articles and videos are for educational purposes only. They are not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent or cure any disease. Consult a healthcare provider before taking a supplement, especially if you have a medical condition (including pregnant or nursing mothers) or take prescription or over-the-counter medication.