Lactic yeast Kluyveromyces B0399 (Kluyver B0399) on patients suffering from irritable colon

Introduction

Gastrointestinal disorders are often accompanied by alterations of the colic area, with ulterior worsening of the symptoms, especially in the lower part of the digestive tract.
The now widespread use of antibiotics has resulted in an equally widespread diffusion of the so-called "syndromes of intestinal dismicrobism", caused by the antibiotics' modification and selection action on the common intestinal saprophytic flora which, as everyone knows, has a physiological function of major importance.
The antibiotics which are predominantly responsibgle for these intestinal syndromes are those which are not absorbed (or only in part) by the gastric and intestinal mucosa when administered orally, thus reaching the lower intestine and colon unmodified, where the enteric bacteric flora resides.
Equally responsible for these syndromes can also be those antibiotics which, when administered directly into the intestine, are partially eliminated in active form with the feces (tetracycline, etc.). Even the irritable colon produces a change in the intestinal flora, with a production of fermentative processes which produce alterations of the digestive functions.
This process leads to meteorism, diarrhea, etc..
The alteration of the intestinal flora also provokes the loss of vitaminic function. The lack of production of vitamin B leads to glossitis, cheilitis and trophic disturbances of the intestinal mucosa, while the deficiency of vitamin K causes disturbances in blood coagulation.
Lastly, when alterations of the ecologic intestinal equilibrium occur, external pathogenic germs (staphylococci), take root, and the "pathogenic opportunists" already present can become virulent, penetrating the intestinal wall causing septicaemia or visceral localizations (candidiasis).
To avoid these syndromes of intestinal dismicrobism, the idea to use the exogenous contribution of a microbic flora which could correct the effects of the disappearance or decrease of the saprophytic flora with its enzimatic, vitaminic and antagonistic functions of pathogenic germs was elaborated.
The attention was turned to probiotic Bioval plus with yeasts pertaining to the typified lactic yeast Kluyveromyces fragilis B0399 ( Turval B0399) balanced with Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which have a considerable natural resistance to antibiotics. They synthesize amylolytic enzymes and vitamin B and inhibit the development of the staphylococco and Candida.
Considering that 30/70 % of the gastroenterologic ambulatory visits regard colon irritability, with a frequency of morbidity in the general population of 15/25%, we wanted to verify the efficacy of BioVal plus in this pathology.
In all the patients, organic pathology was excluded by means of proctoscope and/or opaque enema, or colonscope.
A search was executed for blood defects, parasites, as well as a control of total IgE, hemochrome, sideremia. In the elderly, a search for Cea, Alfa feto protein was also done.

Symtoms

The patients had the following symptoms for at least three months prior to the beginning of the trial:

• abdominal pain or distension which decreased after evacuation;
• variation of the womb's frequency and/or consistency of the feces;
• alterations in defecation which becomes difficult, impelling and with the sensation of incomplete evacuation,
• myxorrhea

45 patients were treated, predominantly female, between the ages of 20 to 70
(average age: 38).

Dosage

* Group A: 1 capsule every 8 hours for 20 days.
* Group B: 1 capsule every 12 hours for 30 days.
* Group C: 1 capsule a day for 60 days.

Results

No unwanted side effects, adverse reactions or similar undesirable manifestations were verified which could have caused suspension of the treatment.
It was not necessary to interrupt therapy by substituting it with cholinergics, prokinetics or other drugs.
In Group A a considerable improvement in abdominal distension was noted, with an accelerated rhythm in evacuation and an emission of tendentially soft feces .
In Group B an improvement abdominal distension and consistency of the feces was noted, with a regularization of the womb and regular defecation.
Even in Group C an improvement in symptoms, though not constant, was noted.
As an ulterior test, a treatment with BioVal plus was executed on 15 patients which were under antibiotic therapy for eradication of Helicobacter pylori.

Conclusions

In light of these results, treatment A is recommended for patients who are habitually constipated, especially in the first phase of treatment, which will then be followed by scheme B and C.
Treatment B constitutes the "golden standard" and can be alternated with scheme C.
Treatment C can be used as maintenance in patients with irritable colons, after an initially more intense therapy or cyclically alternating with the latter.
In the ulterior test, all patients confirmed a preventive effect on the various symptoms of intestinal dismicrobism, with a better tollerance of the considerably heavy antibiotic and anti-microbic load (claritromycine, thymidazol, amoxicillin, metronidazol).

In conclusion, the use of the synergic balanced mix of Saccaromyces cerevisiae and Kluyveromyces fragilis B0399 is recommended in all cases of intestinal dismicrobism induced by organic diseases and/or antibiotics, but also for putting intestinal flora back in equilibrium to improve bloating,abdominal swelling and irregularity of the intestine in the syndrome of irritable colon.

Dr. S. Andreoli – medical director of the Gastroenterologic Service of the Hospital S. Maria della Misericordia of Udine Italy;