Dysbiosis

Introduction to Dysbiosis

Dr. Elie Metchinkoff, a Russian Scientist, was the one to popularize the idea of "Dys-symbiosis, or Dysbiosis," which is a state of living with intestinal flora that have harmful effects. He suggested that toxic amines produced by bacterial putrefaction of food were the cause of degenerative diseases, and that by ingesting fermented foods containing Lactobacilli we could prolong life by decreasing gut putrefaction. The consideration of dysbiosis with digestive flora as an influence in the development of inflammatory diseases and cancer has received considerable experimental support over the past two decades.

What is Dysbiosis?

Dysbiosis means there is an overgrowth of yeast, harmful bacteria, viruses or parasites in the intestines.

Dysbiosis is merely a more general term relating to an overgrowth of pathogens. Yeast are not the only intestinal residents that may cause these symptoms. In fact, intestinal bacteria or viruses are often the culprits and not yeast. Severe dysbiosis sufferers will have overgrowth of both yeast and pathogenic bacteria in their intestines.

Symptoms of Dysbiosis

Dysbiosis does more than interfere with digestion, it makes you tired. Dysbiosis also alters your immune system and upsets your hormonal balance. Dysbiosis can even make it difficult for you to think clearly. Dysbiosis is known to cause anxiety, depression or mood swings. Dysbiosis can affect almost every aspect of health. If you have dysbiosis, then you are likely to suffer from fatigue, headaches, intestinal upsets, and many of the symptoms normally attributed to Candida.

What causes Dysbiosis?

Altered ratios of the gut flora may produce disease. Bacterial enzymes can alter the intestinal environment in numerous ways, some of which can be easily measured in a properly collected sample of stool and evaluated by Genova/Great Smokies Lab. Bacterial antigens may cause dysfunctional immune responses that contribute to autoimmune diseases of the bowel and of connective tissue. Effective treatment of dysbiosis may be achieved with diet and anti-microbial supplements. Failure of common approaches using fiber and Lacto- bacilli is a strong indication of small bowel bacterial overgrowth, a disorder that demands a different approach.

Based on available research and clinical data, there are four general causes of intestinal dysbiosis: putrefaction, fermentation, deficiency and sensitization.

Putrefaction
Putrefaction dysbiosis results from diets high in fat and animal flesh and low in insoluble fiber.

Putrefaction dysbiosis is corrected by decreasing dietary fat and flesh, increasing fiber consumption and feeding Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus preparations.

As there is a decrease in friendly bacteria, the production of short-chain fatty acids and other beneficial nutrients is decreased.

There is also an increase in ammonia which can have negative effects on many bodily functions. Research suggests that this type of dysbiosis in contributing towards colon cancer and breast cancer.

Fermentation (Small Bowel Bacterial Overgrowth)
This is a condition of overgrowth of bacteria in the stomach, small intestine and beginning of the large intestine and causes carbohydrate intolerance.

This may be the only symptom of bacterial overgrowth, making it indistinguishable from intestinal candidiasis;

Gastric bacterial overgrowth increases the risk of systemic infection.

British physicians working with the gut-fermentation syndrome have tentatively concluded, based on treatment results, that the majority of cases are due to yeast overgrowth and about 20% are bacterial in origin. The symptoms include abdominal distension, carbohydrate intolerance, fatigue and impaired mental function.
Bacterial overgrowth here is encouraged by
- hypochlorhydria,
- sluggishness due to abnormal bowel motility,
- immune deficiency or
- by malnutrition.
Gastric bacterial overgrowth increases the risk of systemic infection and can lead to intolerance to carbohydrate.
Any carbohydrate ingested is fermented by bacteria and results in production of toxic waste products.

Dietary sugars can be fermented to produce ethanol.
Chronic exposure of the small bowel to ethanol may impair intestinal permeability.

Deficiency
Exposure to antibiotics or a diet low in soluble fiber may create an deficiency of normal friendly flora, including Bifidobacteria, Lactobacillus and E. Coli.

This condition has been described in patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and food intolerance.
Deficiency and putrefaction dysbiosis are complementary conditions which often occur at the same time and call for the same treatment regime.

Sensitization
Aggravation of abnormal immune responses to components of the normal intestinal flora may contribute to the development of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis), spinal arthritis, other connective tissue disease and skin disorders such as psoriasis or acne.

Recommendations for Putrefaction and Fermentation Dysbiosis

For putrefaction dysbiosis a diet high in both soluble and insoluble fiber and low in saturated fat and animal protein is recommended.

These dietary changes help to lower the concentrations of Bacteroides and also increase concentrations of lactic acid-producing bacteria like Bifidobacteria, Lactobacillus and beneficial lactic acid streptococcus in the colon.

For fermentation dysbiosis, on the other hand, starch and soluble fiber can exacerbate the abnormal gut ecology. When the small intestine is involved, simple sugars are also not advisable. A diet free of cereal grains and added sugar is recommended.

Fruit, fat and starchy vegetables are tolerated to variable degree for each individual. Oligosaccharides found in some vegetables, carrots in particular, inhibit the binding of enterobacteria to the intestinal mucosa.