Anatomy-Lexicon

Intestinal flora

introduction

The intestinal flora describes the entirety of the microorganisms that colonize the human intestine. This includes many different bacteria, as well Eukaryotes and Archaeawho represent the other two large groups.
The intestinal flora only develops from the time of birth. Until then, the gastrointestinal tract is sterile. The intestinal flora is very important for digestion and human health and can contribute to the development of diseases if there is an imbalance. Overall, the human digestive tract contains around 10 times as many microorganisms as the human body contains cells.

Development of the intestinal flora

In the womb, the gastrointestinal tract of the unborn child is not yet colonized with microorganisms. The first bacteria only get there during birth. These originate primarily from the mother's genital area, as the child comes into contact with it during birth. The first bacteria to colonize are therefore predominant Streptococci, Enterobacteria and Escherichia coli (E. coli). Children born by caesarean section do not come into contact with these germs.

Your digestive tract is first mainly due to maternal germs Skin flora populated.
A large number of other bacteria enter the child's gastrointestinal tract with the first food. These are mainly lactic acid bacteria. These acidify the environment in the digestive tract, which limits the multiplication of harmful pathogens.

In the course of life the Intestinal flora continues to open and the colonization by microorganisms is becoming increasingly dense. A healthy, adult person resides in his digestive tract at least 500 to 1000 different bacterial species. The different types of bacteria prefer to settle in very specific sections of the digestive tract. in the Small intestine are, for example, increased Lactobacillus- and Enterococcus-Species while the much more densely populated Colon prefers Bacteroides-, Bifidobacterium-, Clostridium- and many other types of bacteria.

Function of the intestinal flora

The intestinal flora plays a very important role in maintaining good health. So the "good" microorganisms are essential for them Defense pathogenic agent and help ensure that these cannot multiply and settle unchecked in the digestive tract.
At the same time, the microorganisms supply the human body with various important nutritional components through their metabolism, for example many vitamins that the human body could not isolate from food on its own.
In addition, the intestinal flora plays a key role in digestive processes.
The bacteria break down sugar and fatty acids and stimulate intestinal motor skills. Depending on the composition of the intestinal flora, conclusions can be drawn about the metabolic status of the person concerned. The intestinal flora should focus on overweight people Firmicutes- and less Bacteroides-Bacteria are home to this balance in favor of slim people Bacteroides-Genus has been moved. The intestinal flora is therefore in a reciprocal relationship with body weight.
It is also discussed to what extent they influence coping with stress and a person's emotional state takes. Last but not least, the intestinal flora has an influence on the immune modulation in the human body and houses an important part of the immune system. The exact contributing processes have not yet been conclusively clarified.

Incorrect colonization of the digestive tract

The sensitive ecosystem of the intestine can get out of balance due to various disruptive factors, which can result in incorrect colonization of the digestive tract. It is characterized by the predominance of one or more pathogenic pathogens, or the reduction or lack of useful microorganisms. Such a bad colonization can manifest itself through various symptoms, for example frequent abdominal pain, gas or a feeling of bloating, susceptibility to infection or food intolerance. Such an incorrect colonization can be determined by various tests at the doctor's and, if necessary, treated.

Rebuild the intestinal flora after antibiotic therapy

Antibiotic therapy is probably one of the most well-known disruptive factors for the intact intestinal flora. Antibiotics not only kill the unwanted germs that caused the acute illness, they also affect the beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract. Repeated use of antibiotics in particular can therefore have a very negative effect on a person's general state of health and further increase their susceptibility to infection in the future. After a single antibiotic treatment, the natural balance of the intestinal flora is usually restored by itself within a few weeks. However, following repeated and intensive antibiotic therapy, it is advisable to give the intestine and its flora a regeneration phase.
This process can be supported with naturopathic means. A healthy and balanced diet, which should initially be alkaline, serves as the basis for the successful rebuilding of the damaged intestinal flora. This means that the majority of the diet should consist of vegetables, while animal proteins and sweets should be avoided if possible. Sugary foods in particular are good foods for pathogenic intestinal dwellers. With certain powders, the intestine can be cleaned initially before beneficial intestinal bacteria are supplied again. These can be taken in the form of so-called probiotics. Various yoghurt products, such as Actimel®, Yakult® or Kijimea®, are probiotic foods.
The simultaneous intake of prebiotics, which serve the "good" bacteria as a food basis, can support the long-term settlement of the supplied probiotic cultures. There are also various homeopathic approaches that can be used to build up the intestinal flora.

Find out more about the topic here: Probiotics.

Renovation

After damaging influences or general malaise in the gastrointestinal area, it can be useful to rehabilitate the intestinal flora. There are a few things to keep in mind. There are a great many different methods like this Intestinal rehabilitation can be made. There are no clear guidelines. Everyone has to find out for themselves what they can best cope with. It makes sense to pay attention to your diet. A complete change in diet is not absolutely necessary, but a predominantly alkaline diet is included lots of vegetables is conducive to the cleaning process.
It is also very healthy to drink freshly squeezed fruit and vegetable juices every day. These contain many vitamins and important ones Trace elements. Green juices in particular contain many important nutrients that replenish the body's reserves. Also a sufficient one Drinking amount in addition to the juices is very important to enable the body to detoxify quickly. If possible, you should only drink pure, non-carbonated water - ideally two to three liters per day.
If the intestine is prepared so that useful bacteria can settle there again, probiotic cultures in the form of capsules or similar can be added. When the right environment is restored, these “good” bacteria will increasingly settle in the digestive tract. If the milieu is not right, the bacteria supplied will not be able to persist in the long term. To promote the cleaning process, for example Psyllium husks be taken. These swell up in the digestive tract and thus develop their cleansing effect on the way through the intestines. Since the seeds swell so much, it is important to drink enough at the same time. Otherwise it can too constipation come. Furthermore, care should be taken to ensure that there is an adequate supply of minerals. If desired, enemas and massages can be used as support. During the entire period of intestinal rehabilitation and also afterwards, emphasis should also be placed on sufficient physical activity. This vitalizes the body and boosts the metabolism, thereby increasing the detoxification more effective and the body becomes more resilient.

Intestinal flora test

An intestinal rehabilitation is particularly useful if there is an incorrect bacterial colonization in the intestinal flora. There are various test methods to find out, for example after lengthy antibiotic therapy.

The most important test is the so-called Glucose H2 breath test. This is based on the fact that bacteria in the intestine produce glucose (Glucose) metabolize, producing molecular hydrogen (H2). This hydrogen then passes from the intestine into the blood, reaches the lungs and is released there via the exhaled air.
Before carrying out the glucose H2 breath test, an initial value of "H2" is therefore determined in the exhaled air of the patient. Then the patient is given 200ml of a glucose solution to drink. The glucose reaches the intestine and is broken down by the bacteria there. The H2 value in the patient's exhaled air is now measured every ten minutes. If the value increases sharply after drinking the glucose solution, this indicates massive bacterial colonization of the digestive tract.

It works in a similar way Lactulose H2 breath test. Lactulose is a double sugar that cannot be metabolized by the body. The drunk lactulose solution therefore reaches the large intestine unchanged, where it encounters increased bacterial colonization. The bacteria can break down lactulose and in turn produce "H2", which appears in the patient's exhaled air.
Normally, the H2 level in the exhaled air rises about 90 minutes after drinking the solution because it takes so long for the solution to reach the colon. If the value increases significantly earlier (sooner than 75 minutes after drinking the solution), bacterial colonization of the intestine can be assumed. In rare cases, increased intestinal motor skills are the cause of a positive lactulose H2 breath test.

Capsules

To clean up the body's own intestinal flora, capsules can be purchased that probiotic bacterial cultures contain. These bacterial cultures consist, for example, of different strains of Lactic acid bacteria and Bifido-Bacteriawhich are supposed to rebuild the natural balance of the intestinal flora. The capsules are usually taken as part of a complete intestinal rehabilitation over several weeks up to several months.
It is important that the environment in the intestine is prepared accordingly so that the beneficial bacterial strains want to colonize there again. An alkaline diet helps to optimize the environment. An unfavorable milieu, on the other hand, means that the ingested bacteria do not settle and leave the intestine again.

Intestinal flora and weight loss

The intestinal flora adapts to a person's eating habits. The colonization with microorganisms changes depending on the metabolic situation. It was found in studies that obese people predominantly with bacteria of the species Firmicutes were populated and less Bacteroides-Species native to.
The digestive tract of slim people, on the other hand, was mostly of Bacteroides-Types and less of Firmicutes-Bacteria colonized. Accordingly, the intestinal flora plays an important role in the metabolism and thus also in weight loss.
So that Firmicutes-Bacteria do not prevail, should be on one varied diet be taken care of with as little sugar as possible. A healthy diet shifts the spectrum of colon colonization back in a more positive direction (direction BacteroidesSpecies), which improves the metabolism of food and makes it easier to lose weight. FirmicutesSpecies, on the other hand, can affect the success of diets. Ultimately, however, there is only one way to lose weight permanently: a healthy, balanced diet paired with plenty of exercise.