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Improvement of intestinal mucosa and flora

Introduction
The gastrointestinal tract and its symbiosis with micro-organisms has been an issue amongst physicians and researchers alike. Usually, intestinal micro-organisms (bacteria and fungi) have been considered to be detrimental to the human host. Recently, research has shown, that the flora plays an important role in the vitality of the human host. In the body, the intestinal mucosa forms the largest contact surface with the outer world (skin 2 M2; lung 100 M2; gut 500 M2). The intestinal tract forms an open functional system with about 300 - 500 M2 active resorption surface for nutrients, water, bile salts and secretions by glands within the gut for protection against micro-organisms and dangerous antigens and toxic material. Also, the gut excretes IgA and waste products into its lumen.





Microbiology of the gut

In total, it is estimated that in an average adult, there are about 1000 trillion (10 hoch 15) bacteria living in the gut, mainly in the colon. This is 100 times more than the total amount of cells in the adult human body. The gut flora contributes about 700 grams to the total body weight. At birth, the gut is sterile. The colonisation of the gut is an ongoing process and can be divided into four stages (1):



  1. Phase I: initial colonisation through ingestion of bacteria from the mother during the birth process of mainly aerobic bacteria (E. coli, Enterococcus, etc.);
  2. Phase II: establishment of the early flora from the second week post partum on. Now, the gut is colonised by micro-organisms which break down complex carbohydrates, and aerobic and anaerobic bacteria (Lactobacilli, Bifidobacteria). The newborn will ingest and be colonised mainly by bacteria from the mother though direct contact with the skin and through breastfeeding;
  3. Phase III: colonisation through micro-organisms from food stuffs other than milk. Usually, these bacteria are anaerobe (Eubacterium, Veillonella, Fusobacterium, Megasphaera, Clostridium, etc.). At this stage, the adult situation is achieved. There is being established a kind of equilibrium between many of the various micro-organisms;
  4. Phase IV: stage of the elderly. In the elderly, there is a shift in the equilibrium between the aerobic and the anaerobic bacteria with an increase of the Clostridium species and a decline of the Bifidobacteria. The oxygen use of the aerobic bacteria is so high within the gut that anaerobic bacteria live in symbiosis with aerobic bacteria and further break down of what is left of the foodstuffs.



Importance of the intestinal flora for the human host...