Friendly Flora Prevents Tissue Destruction

An interesting study shows that friendly flora (lactic acid bacteria or acidophilus¹) helps prevent the destruction of important structural components of the digestive tract (chondroitin sulfates and hyaluronic acid).  For many years I have observed that individuals who eat too much sugar or who have an imbalanced digestive tract have an increase in joint pains and aches.  I have seen this issue cause serious problems, including arthritis in children. 

Generally I view this problem as being caused by the toxic metabolites of hostile bacteria or Candida Albicans, and inflammatory signals coming directly from such organisms – a view that is confirmed by the current study.  Additionally, by replenishing friendly acidophilus the rate at which important structural building blocks were degraded was normalized.

This is an extremely important finding for any person with irritable bowel, as it is now clear that the hostile organisms are actually directly weakening and damaging the lining of the GI tract.

It is also an important finding for general joint aches and pains.  This is because an inflamed digestive tract has “first dibs” on structural repair nutrients due to the extreme importance of the digestive tract.  This can easily cause a shortage of chondroitin sulfates and hyaluronic acid in joints like the hip or knee. 

Digestive problems have a triple negative effect on the structure of the GI tract lining and joints everywhere:
1) Hostile organisms produce toxins that irritate tissues.
2) Hostile organisms produce inflammatory signals that further damage tissue anywhere in the body.
3) Hostile organisms accelerate the breakdown of structurally essential building blocks, which can easily lead to chronically inflamed digestion as well as loss of cartilage in joints.

Friendly acidophilus can help stop this problem.  Supplemental hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfates can be taken to help correct the structural deficiencies that are leading to accelerated wear and tear.