A group of scientists including Tina I. Lam, Christina C. Tam, Larry H. Stanker and Luisa W. Cheng published the results of the clinical study in the Electronic Journal of the National Institutes of Health of the United States (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5198571/) published on December 16, 2016, along with 62 related referenced research works with the topic "Beneficial microorganisms inhibit the internalization of epithelial cells of Botulinum Neurotoxin Serotype A".
C.botulinum bacteria
DEPARTMENT OF FOOD SAFETY, MINISTRY OF HEALTH
The results have shown the feasibility of using beneficial microorganisms (probiotics) to inhibit and minimize the harmful effects of C.botulinum bacteria and the toxins they produce.
In particular, the solutions proposed in the experiment when using probiotics are very popular and available worldwide and in Vietnam, including the following bacterial strains: Lactobacillus Acidophilus and Lactobacillus Reuteri (found in digestive enzymes, probiotics), Saccharomyces Boulardii (yeast that supports digestion), Lactobacillus Casei (found in yogurt). These probiotics and yeast strains are easy to buy at modern drug stores with the support of pharmacists.
Where does Botulinum toxin come from?
Botulinum toxin is produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum (C.botulinum). This is a gram-positive, anaerobic, rod-shaped bacterium with many hairs around its body, mobile, and capable of rapidly multiplying in the host's intestinal tract. In particular, when exposed to harsh conditions, they have the ability to form spores. Therefore, C.botulinum bacteria are widely distributed in nature such as garden soil, animal feces, pond water, and especially can grow and reproduce in conditions lacking oxygen such as canned food, vacuum bags containing meat, fish, and pate stored for a long time.
During the process of eating and living of humans, the appearance of C.botulinum bacteria in the intestines can happen at any time, but poisoning rarely occurs, because of the resistance, the ability to destroy harmful bacteria of beneficial bacteria (probiotics) in the digestive tract or because the amount of bacteria is not strong enough to overcome the body's natural protective barriers.
Mechanism of attack of C.botulinum bacteria
C.botulinum bacteria can multiply explosively in environments that are rich in nutrients but low in oxygen under favorable conditions. Because in natural conditions, environmental impacts as well as the growth and development of other bacteria can overwhelm the C.botulinum population.
The most common cases of C.botulinum poisoning often come from the use of food that has been stored for a long time in airtight containers, such as canned meat, canned fish, canned pate, vacuum bags. In such environments, bacteria multiply, grow and produce Botulinum toxin and become a source of "double poison", including a large amount of Botulinum bacteria and toxins produced by the bacterial population.
When food containing toxins and harmful bacteria is introduced into the intestines through eating, the toxins will affect the nervous system, and at the same time, large numbers of Botulinum bacteria will explode and continue to create new toxins. Due to the speed of the toxin's effects, as well as the high replication ability of Botulinum bacteria, poisoning cases often have very rapid consequences, which can cause coma or even death in humans.
Human body's defense mechanism against C.botulinum bacteria
C.botulinum bacteria appear everywhere, but poisoning is not common because the human body has many "biological barriers" to protect humans from harmful bacteria in general and C.botulinum bacteria in particular.
First, we can mention the intestinal mucosa, antibacterial peptides play a role in preventing the penetration of harmful bacteria under the mucosal layer. Next is the intestinal microbial ecosystem containing many groups of beneficial symbiotic bacteria (probiotics) that will overwhelm and compete with the existence of harmful bacteria, preventing their explosive growth.
Toxins produced by harmful bacteria will be partially processed by beneficial microorganisms, the rest will be sent to the body to signal and find a way to eliminate. In life, we often call it vomiting, diarrhea, or in folk terms "vomiting mouth, running away". It is a very important defense mechanism of the body against the attack of toxins and harmful bacteria.
However, this mechanism will not work effectively if the human digestive system has too few symbiotic microorganisms - probiotics or the amount of harmful bacteria and toxins is too high beyond the tolerance threshold.
Using probiotics to treat botulinum poisoning
Through research projects of prestigious international research agencies, beneficial bacteria (probiotics), in addition to supporting the ability to absorb nutrients from food, also play important roles in treating poisoning caused by harmful bacteria by the following mechanisms: destroying and inhibiting harmful bacterial populations through competitive mechanisms; processing and decomposing toxic substances, including natural toxins caused by harmful bacteria and even preventing the effects of heavy metals.
Applying scientific knowledge to life
With the above knowledge, we can completely have solutions to prevent and minimize damage caused by harmful bacteria such as: Limit the use of canned foods, especially expired canned foods.
Canned foods that have been opened and then stored in the refrigerator can still be a source of dangerous toxins from harmful bacteria; Regularly use foods containing many beneficial bacteria such as probiotics, yogurt, fermented fruit, sticky rice wine, etc. because in environments where beneficial bacteria (probiotics) develop, harmful bacteria will be inhibited and destroyed.
When abdominal pain and vomiting occur, you can quickly use a mixture of digestive enzymes (probiotics) and honey or concentrated sugar water (prebiotics) to temporarily inhibit the growth of bacteria and the effects of toxins. Or use yogurt mixed with honey in larger amounts than usual. This is a scientifically based first aid solution for poisoning. After that, you need to take the poisoned person to a medical facility for further monitoring and treatment.
Associate Professor, Doctor Pham Thi Ly, former senior lecturer at Hai Phong University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Head of the Department of Biochemistry, now a full-time lecturer at Thang Long University in Hanoi, said: Some recent food poisoning cases caused by C. Botulium have caused panic and fear in the community such as vegetarian pate poisoning, mass poisoning in schools, street food poisoning... Treating patients with Botulium poisoning is very costly and the threat to the patient's life is very high. The article has given readers an objective, scientific view from self-prevention to very effective first aid with things available around us such as digestive enzymes, yogurt, honey, fermented fruit juice...
The knowledge that the author provides is very objective and scientific with many references to clinical research results of many reliable scientists. Many thanks to the author for the timely and important information.
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