Bacteria Boosts Weight Loss in Gastric Bypass Patients
by Kerri Seidler on July 19, 2009 · Comments | Gastric Bypass Surgery
New research shows that gastric bypass patients can enhance their outcomes from the procedure with the use of probiotic supplements. Probiotics are certain types of bacteria that are known as “good bacteria” or “friendly bacteria” that the body requires for health and well-being. One of the roles they perform in the body is to aid in digestion and absorption of food and nutrients.
After gastric bypass surgery, some patients have more-than-the-normal trouble with digestion. Food blockages can occur when food does not move through the body as it should. While anatomical reasons are found to be the cause of food blockages in some patients, this is not always the case.
It was the patients who had digestion problems that could not be attributed to the anatomy that prompted the study; to see whether or not the cause was due to a build-up of bacteria in the intestines and to see if probiotics would improve the symptoms.
The study followed 44 gastric bypass patients of John Morton, MD, associate professor of surgery at Stanford University School of Medicine. Patients were randomly divided into two groups; a probiotic group and a control group. Both groups were allowed to eat yogurt, a natural source of probiotics, but the probiotic group was also given a daily probiotic supplement.
The findings showed some amazing results. Patients in the study who were in the probiotic group registered greater excess weight loss and higher levels of vitamin B-12 than those in the control group who did not receive supplementation. Based on the results of the research, Dr. Morton says that he will now recommend probiotic supplements to his patients.
If you have had gastric bypass surgery, ask your doctor about probiotics and whether or not they would be beneficial to add to your diet. It is important to talk to your doctor about any possible side effects, safety issues, and interactions connected with probiotic products, before you try to self-medicate as each person’s mix of bacteria varies
by Kerri Seidler on July 19, 2009 · Comments | Gastric Bypass Surgery
After gastric bypass surgery, some patients have more-than-the-normal trouble with digestion. Food blockages can occur when food does not move through the body as it should. While anatomical reasons are found to be the cause of food blockages in some patients, this is not always the case.
It was the patients who had digestion problems that could not be attributed to the anatomy that prompted the study; to see whether or not the cause was due to a build-up of bacteria in the intestines and to see if probiotics would improve the symptoms.
The study followed 44 gastric bypass patients of John Morton, MD, associate professor of surgery at Stanford University School of Medicine. Patients were randomly divided into two groups; a probiotic group and a control group. Both groups were allowed to eat yogurt, a natural source of probiotics, but the probiotic group was also given a daily probiotic supplement.
The findings showed some amazing results. Patients in the study who were in the probiotic group registered greater excess weight loss and higher levels of vitamin B-12 than those in the control group who did not receive supplementation. Based on the results of the research, Dr. Morton says that he will now recommend probiotic supplements to his patients.
If you have had gastric bypass surgery, ask your doctor about probiotics and whether or not they would be beneficial to add to your diet. It is important to talk to your doctor about any possible side effects, safety issues, and interactions connected with probiotic products, before you try to self-medicate as each person’s mix of bacteria varies
xxx
