Rao Yi bombarded that probiotics are fake drugs? The real key to effective probiotics is actually 5 questions
In recent years, probiotic products have been emerging one by one, and each company has different main products. Some say that they have the largest number of bacteria, some say that their strains are patented, and some say that their own has no other additions and is more natural. On July 26, Professor Rao Yi, President of Capital Medical University and a famous biologist, issued an article saying that some of the probiotics promoted are fake drugs, because the research on intestinal bacteria is very popular, but so far there is no effective application. product.
So, for probiotics, do they have any effect on the human body, and which propaganda effects are true? Today, I will take you to talk about the promotional language of probiotics. Does it really conform to the reality, or is it just a sales pitch?
- Probiotics that guarantee the number of bacteria
Commonly used propaganda copy: For our probiotics, the number of bacteria in the factory must reach more than 200 billion. In order to ensure that our probiotics can survive at least 30 billion within 2 years after production, then the factory must be pulled to the beginning of production. Several times of 30 billion, this is our conscientious approach, and it is also a high-cost approach. Generally, no one does this, so it is normal to be expensive.
The actual situation is that this is in line with reality, but the effect is doubtful
First of all, the decline of the number of probiotic bacteria is much faster than everyone thinks, and the activity of probiotic bacteria will gradually decline with time. The activity of most bacteria dropped to only 10%, and some even more. That is to say, if the number of bacteria reported at the factory is 30 billion, after 2 years of proper storage conditions, the number of bacteria per pack will be reduced by about 90%, which means that there are only 3 billion left. If it is a relatively unstable strain, The remaining bacterial count may be less than 5%.
Therefore, some manufacturers advocate to increase the number of bacteria from the factory several times, so that on the last day of the validity period, the number of bacteria detected by the product still conforms to the product label. It sounds like this approach is not wrong, but is it really better? What is the effect of the formula with up to 200 billion bacteria counts from the factory?
Sorry, there is no evidence to support this statement, because the current research results do not have a definite statement. It is believed that the number of bacteria is the best state, which can guarantee the final effect on the human body. However, human research on probiotics believes that the number of bacteria that the human body can use now is rarely higher than 100 billion!
In addition, increasing the number of bacteria in the product, even as high as 200 billion, will increase the competition in the formula strain? Will it cause the original effective strain to be greatly reduced? Moreover, everyone has different susceptibility to various probiotic formulas. If it improves or helps your quality of life after taking it, then for you, this is a useful probiotic product. If it does not work, it is useless to spend money. .
However, when buying probiotic products, be sure not to hoard them in large quantities, so as not to let the activity of the strains decline. It is recommended to consume the amount within a few months at most.
- Embedding technology is better
Propaganda copy: Probiotics treated with “five-layer cryocrystal embedding patented technology” have a strain colonization performance that is several times higher than that of unembedded strains.
This statement is basically correct, but there are certain problems.
Freeze crystal technology is a freeze-drying technology that uses low temperature and vacuum conditions to remove moisture from substances, which can increase the stability of probiotics!
However, do you know what embedding technology is?
Multilayer embedding technology is a solution to improve the colonization rate of probiotics. Probiotics go through the process of production, through the shelf time of the product, all the way to being purchased and eaten, and then through gastric acid, enzymes, and choline, and finally can colonize the intestines and exert their health care effects.
Going through so many levels will greatly reduce the effect of probiotics, but by wrapping probiotics with natural or synthetic polymer materials to block the external environment, the stability and tolerance of probiotics can be improved. This is like an astronaut wearing a space suit to walk in space. The probiotic embedding technology can reduce the stimulation of the external environment, such as temperature, humidity, stomach acid, choline, etc.
But the embedding technology also faces some problems:
The quality of embedding technology
If the probiotics reach the point of action but their embedded shell has not dissolved, the probiotics will not be able to colonize and work! It may be directly excreted from the body, so it is very important to adjust the embedding design. It is not that the more embedding, the better the effect!
more additives
The embedding layer is wrapped with various natural or synthetic polymer materials, such as: polysaccharide, starch, alginate, gelatin, chitosan, maltodextrin, magnesium stearate, etc. In this case, it may not be friendly to special groups, such as pregnant women and infants.
Embedding effect is limited
The overall effect of embedding is still not 100%. Some studies have shown that even if more than 3 layers of embedding are used, the activity of the strain will still drop by 90% after a storage period of 24 months.
- Bacilli are better than cocci
Promotional copy: 100% bacillus, our strain formula is mainly bacillus, so the cost is higher than cocci. But our business only wants the best for our customers, so the probiotics we produce are absolutely 100% bacilli.
Just listen to this kind of propaganda, it’s all a routine.
At present, most of the probiotics are indeed bacilli, such as common Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus plantarum and so on. But some cocci also act as probiotics. A typical example is Enterococcus, which may appear in some well-known probiotic products.
Enterococcus can snatch the living space of pathogenic bacteria, reduce the growth of bad bacteria, and have the effect of helping the intestines. Another important point is the small size of the fungus ball, which is easy to fill to a high bacterial count and exerts a good health care effect. In addition, the dead bacteria of this strain have also been used in the field of health care for immune enhancement.
However, in recent years, studies have found that intestinal bacteria may increase the risk of bacterial resistance, so the use should be more rigorous, so less addition to intestinal health probiotic products.
In addition, high cost does not mean that it is a good probiotic, and it needs to look at the targeting effect of probiotics.
- It is better to add enzymes
Promotional text: Add pineapple enzyme, which is a protein-decomposing enzyme, which can decompose food in the digestive tract, help digestion, and help normal bowel movements.
Just look at it, ordinary people don’t need to buy it
Enzymes are enzymes, and digestive enzymes can help break down nutrients and promote digestion! However, with a normal diet, the digestive enzymes secreted by the human body are enough to be used, and there is no need to increase the dosage, and eating more has no special effect. However, if the secretion of digestive enzymes is insufficient, such as the elderly, patients with pancreatectomy, overeating, etc., it may be necessary, but there are also single products, and it is not necessary to eat probiotics.
- Designed for Asians or Chinese
Promotional copy: XX specializes in probiotics, specially developed for Asian or Chinese dietary habits.
In line with the facts, probiotic products need to be customized
Because different eating habits will greatly affect the ecology of intestinal flora, American fast food, Chinese diet, Mediterranean diet, or accustomed to eating fermented foods, such as kimchi, natto, etc., will lead to large differences in the flora in the human gut.
Therefore, the strains of intestinal health care are also very different, and people who need to take probiotics should indeed consider some specific products to nourish their intestines. However, most of the probiotics currently on the market for intestinal health care are similar, if only fine-tuned. , I am afraid the effect is not good, and if there are only specific probiotics, the cost may be higher, which requires buyers to consider more.
Finally, let’s talk about Rao Yi’s bombardment of some probiotic products. First of all, this is related to the improvement of people’s health awareness. In recent years, the market scale of probiotic products has expanded rapidly. It is estimated to reach about 90 billion yuan by the end of 2022. Under the temptation of the company, it is difficult for companies not to be tempted, and even some technology companies have joined the ranks of selling probiotics, but the problem is that the health industry needs high R&D support, and they can’t do it, so some people use the banner of popular science, Rao Yi really can’t bear to use all kinds of propaganda for marketing.
At present, the probiotics market is gradually ending its savage growth. Whether it is a chicken feather or a booming market, people need to face it rationally.
Well, today’s interpretation of the probiotics promotion on the market is here. If you have other health care questions, please leave a message below, we will see you next time!