Could taking too much probiotics cause D-lactic acid poisoning? Nutritionist You Weiming: These two types of food are safer for healthy intestines

Probiotics are "good bacteria that are beneficial to the body" that can maintain the balance of bacterial flora and maintain the function of the digestive tract. Therefore, probiotics have always given people the impression of "healthy intestines and protecting the brain". However, foreign studies have found that long-term use of probiotics may cause "D-lactic acid poisoning", resulting in symptoms such as brain confusion, inattention and bloating. What exactly is "D-lactic acidosis"? Should people continue to take probiotics? See what the nutritionist says!

Regular consumption of probiotics may cause D-lactic acid poisoning! ? US study sparks debate

The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that probiotics are live microorganisms that, when consumed in adequate quantities, can produce one or more proven functional health benefits to the human body. In Taiwan, there are currently many probiotic products that have been reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration of the Ministry of Health and Welfare and have passed the health food label certification. Most of them claim that there are hundreds of bacteria in the human digestive tract. Moderate supplementation of probiotic products can increase intestinal probiotics, help the intestines maintain a stable normal bacterial ecology, and thus avoid digestive tract discomfort such as constipation and diarrhea.

However, a study by Augusta University in Georgia, USA, found that long-term use of probiotics may cause D-lactic acidosis, which temporarily makes the brain unable to think clearly and concentrate. Once this study was published, it caused panic among people who had been taking probiotics for a long time, and the issue of "whether probiotic supplementation is necessary" was once again hotly debated.

Probiotics are live microorganisms that, when consumed in adequate amounts, can produce one or more demonstrated functional health benefits in humans.

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There is more than one possible cause of D-lactic acidosis

To find the answers to these questions, let’s first understand what “D-lactic acidosis” is! Clinically, D-lactic acidosis is an uncommon but easily overlooked metabolic acidosis. You Weiming, a nutritionist at St. Martin's Hospital, said that in general, healthy intestinal metabolism is not prone to increased D-lactic acid concentration, and it mostly occurs when small intestine resection leads to malabsorption. After small intestine resection, the carbohydrate metabolism process causes poor absorption of easily fermentable carbohydrates. A large amount of carbohydrates enter the large intestine and are fermented into D-lactic acid, which can easily lead to D-lactic acid poisoning.

It is worth noting that the cause of D-lactic acid poisoning may be other reasons, in addition to taking probiotics for too long. Everyone's situation is different. It is recommended to consult a doctor or nutritionist before correctly attributing the cause. According to a study published in 2010 by nephrologists Zhang Youming and Yang Chuixun in the Annals of Internal Medicine, the following six conditions may also lead to an increase in D-lactic acid concentration in the body:

6 situations that may lead to increased D-lactic acid concentration in the body

1. The presence of intestinal bacteria that produce D-lactic acid.

2. The normal intestinal bacteria that convert D-lactic acid into short-chain fatty acids are reduced, such as Escherichia coli.

3. Certain antibiotics (such as Trimethoprim/Sulfamethoxazole) or probiotics (such as Epidiolex containing lactic acid bacteria).

4. The acidic environment in the intestines.

5. Renal insufficiency.

6. Vitamin B1 deficiency.

Do we need probiotics to maintain intestinal health? Actually, you can eat these

Knowing that the increase in D-lactic acid concentration is not necessarily entirely due to taking probiotics can make people feel a little more at ease, but it also makes people rethink: Is it necessary for everyone to supplement with probiotic products? Is it necessary to rely on probiotics to maintain intestinal health?

Does everyone need to supplement with probiotic products? Is it necessary to rely on probiotics to maintain intestinal health? Actually, you can eat these.

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1. Dietary fiber

According to an animal experiment in the UK, probiotics can reduce the number of saprophytes in the intestines and interfere with the damage of carcinogens attacking normal cells, while dietary fiber helps to increase intestinal probiotics, while promoting intestinal peristalsis, increasing stool volume and accelerating the excretion of carcinogens in the body, thereby reducing the chance of carcinogens in food coming into contact with the large intestine. Therefore, maintaining intestinal health does not necessarily require the use of probiotic products. Eating a balanced diet and consuming more dietary fiber foods can also increase the number of good bacteria in the intestines!

Nutritionist You Weiming added that, in fact, the probiotics already in the intestines like to eat dietary fiber, which in turn produces short-chain fatty acids. These short-chain fatty acids can inhibit the growth of saprophytic bacteria. Therefore, the more probiotics there are in the intestines, the healthier the body will be. These dietary fiber foods that can increase the number of good bacteria in the intestines have a special name, called "probiotic biomass."

Currently, the National Health Administration recommends that adults should consume 25 to 30 grams of dietary fiber per day. People may wish to consume more of the following common "probiotic biomass", including: whole grains, such as brown rice, five-grain rice, pumpkin, yam, sweet potato, red bean, mung bean, coix seed, whole wheat products, etc.; vegetables and fruits, such as garlic, sweet potato leaves, broccoli, cabbage, celery, spinach, eggplant, carrots, beef tomatoes, enoki mushrooms, bitter melon, green onions, bell peppers, apples, grapes, bananas and pineapples, etc., to help the original good bacteria in the intestines, more effectively promote the balance of intestinal flora, and prevent the digestive tract from getting upset!

2. Fermented Foods

In addition to eating enough dietary fiber foods, there are also many fermented foods in daily life that are beneficial to health, such as: yogurt, lactic acid bacteria drinks, kimchi, natto, miso, fermented black beans, cheese, red wine, sweet rice wine, etc. They are also rich in probiotics, and moderate intake can also maintain intestinal health!