Evidence of Probiotic Benefits
The ability of probiotic interventions in the management of UTIs has long been considered and is now supported by increasing clinical evidence for a growing number of specific strains.
There is a close correlation between the loss of the normal genital microbiota, particularly Lactobacillus species, and an increased incidence of UTIs, therefore suggesting that repletion may be beneficial.
LactoCran has 19 probiotic strains, which is probably the only UTI probiotic supplement with the most number of probiotic strains, of which 11 out of 19 strains are Lactobacillus strains, the specially selected Lactobacillus strains are the reason why such a unique combination of so many Lactobacillus strains work synergistically for a specific purpose to help relieve UTI, re-populate the gastrointestinal and urinary tract area with lactobacilli.
Lactobacilli can prevent the adherence, growth and colonization of uropathogenic bacteria.
It has been shown that healthy microbial populations of Lactobacillus species have a strong inhibitory effect on E. coli. Infections treated using antibiotics reduce drug abuse, leading to drug resistance and render the natural barrier of the urinary system vulnerable to infections.
In their study, Zucotti et al. stated that probiotics could be a good alternative to antibiotic therapy because of their ability to bind to uroepithelial cells and inhibit pathogenic growth, and biosurfactant secretion. The same investigators have emphasized that oral Lactobacillus therapy can colonize these bacteria in the urinary tract following intestinal colonization.
Probiotic Strains shown to benefit urogenital health.
A recent review in Canada suggested that the mechanisms whereby certain probiotic lactobacilli improve urogenital health include immune modulation, reduction in pathogen ascension from the rectum, and interference with colonisation and survival of pathogens.
A Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus rhamnosus were shown in vitro to inhibit the adherence of E. coli to the GI tract wall by inducing the production of mucin (a sticky substance coating the epithelial cells known to inhibit the adhesion of pathogens). A 2011 in vitro study at Reading University also showed two probiotics strains,
Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus plantarum, to have good anti-bacterial effects in inhibiting E. coli growth.
A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (RCT) in 2006 showed an oral Lactobacillus rhamnosus (1 x 109 CFU / 1 billion) and a Lactobacillus reuteri (1 x 109 CFU / 1 billion) was able to recover vaginal counts of Lactobacillus species following antibiotics and infection by 96% compared to 53% in controls.