Deerland Probiotics & Enzymes has announced the publication of a study investigating the germination of a spore-forming probiotic strain in the human small intestines. The study, entitled: ‘Presence and germination of the probiotic Bacillus subtilis DE111 in the human small intestinal tract’, has been published in Frontiers in Microbiology.
The randomised, crossover, double-blind, placebo-controlled study investigated germination activity of the company’s probiotic in 11 individuals with stable ileostomies, which was IRB-approved. An ileostomy involves the disconnection of the small intestine from the colon, and reconnection to an external ileal bag. With access to the contents of the ileal bags, investigators were able to directly examine spore germination in the human small intestine under real-time in-vivo conditions.
In the study, participants aged 24 to 75 with ileal bags consumed five billion CFU of DE111 or placebo with a standardised meal; each participant first took placebo, had a one-week washout period then took DE111.
The contents of their ileal bags were collected every hour following consumption for eight hours, and the spore and vegetative DE111 cell counts were investigated. Following consumption of the probiotic all participants showed both DE111 spores and DE111 vegetative cells present in their ileostomy bags. This was not the case post-consumption of the placebo.
During the study period of 8 hours, the average time for food to fully travel from the mouth all the way through the small intestines, the combined spore and vegetative cell counts measured in the ileum were the same or more than the number of spores that were consumed at the beginning of the study. This indicates survivability of DE111, as well as growth and reproduction of the strain in the digestive tract.
“Germination of spore-forming probiotics in the small intestines is of particular importance considering that a significant portion of the immune system is located in that portion of the gut and the majority of digestion and nutrient absorption occurs there,” said John Deaton, VP of science and technology for Deerland Probiotics & Enzymes. “Prior to this new study, others have attempted to determine spore germination in the small intestine through simulated lab models or animal studies, but none have investigated actual in-vivo spore germination in the human small intestine.”
Deaton added: “This study provides clear evidence that DE111 spores germinate in the human small intestine. This then provides support to show that consuming B. subtilis DE111 effectively promotes and supports immune and digestive health.”