Are you overwhelmed by the number of probiotic and prebiotic supplements that have flooded the markets. One particular probiotic that has gained attention for its effectiveness is Megasporebiotic, a product of Microbiome Labs. So before you join the bandwagon and purchase this, here is an overview of the scientific literature available on the product and all you need to know about it. Just so you know, this is not a sponsored post, and I have no affiliation with the company. The information here is from my research of online medical publications and represents my personal views only.
What is Megasporebiotic?
Megasporebiotic is a 100% spore-based probiotic blend of Bacillus indicus, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus coagulans, Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus clausii. The product claims to be the first all-spore antioxidant-producing probiotic supplement. MegaSporeBiotic is free from eggs, dairy, gluten, soy, nuts and wheat – nothing special for a product promoting gut health.
Bacillus spores suit well for use as probiotics. They are highly resistant to heat and desiccation, allowing for easy storage. MegaSporeBiotic has a long shelf life and can be stored at room temperature. Bacillus spores are stable over a wide range of pHs and, as such, can survive the acidic conditions of the stomach as they make their way to the intestinal tract. Studies have shown that when taken orally, Bacillus spores can travel to the intestinal tract and germinate.
Probiotics have several health benefits. There include supporting increased levels of SCFA (small chain fatty acid)-producing bacteria, decreasing the after-meal surge in the blood of triglycerides and disease risk biomarkers, improving the quality of life in patients with irritable bowel syndrome, and reducing the duration of diarrhoea in children with acute diarrhoea. Bacillus spores also reduce the concentration of lipids in blood and have anti-obesity and anti-diabetic properties.
How do we determine the effectiveness of a probiotic?
As the product has been around for over five years, several clinical studies have evaluated the product. Most studies are in vitro studies, that is, studies conducted in an experimental lab animal or tissue culture. While such studies indicate the potential effect of any medicine, they cannot predict how the product will perform in the human body. The effect in humans is usually less compared to that in experimental studies.
Multiple factors determine if the product will be effective in the human body. These are: whether the spores will overcome the defence forces of the body and the acidity of the stomach to reach the intestine in the first place, how they will interact with the other substances and organisms present in the gut, will the beneficial effect of the bacterial overshadow the impact of other existing bacteria and so on. It is difficult to assess the effects of a probiotic on the human body. Hence most research on probiotics does involve a fair amount of innovative cell cultures that mimic the tissue and flora of the gut. A frequently used model is the mucosal simulator of the human intestinal microbial system (M-SHIME®).
Clinical studies evaluating MegaSporeBiotic
A study by Microbiome Labs evaluated the effect of MicroSporeBiotic in experimental models of healthy humans with healthy gut conditions. The results showed beneficial changes in metabolism, including increased propionate production and decreased ammonium production. There were changes in the types of gut microorganisms as well. Bacterial diversity increased with treatment. The study “provided some evidence to support to MegaSporeBiotic™ as a probiotic that may support a healthy gut microbiome”. Note that this is in a healthy human being and on a single donor.
Coming to the studies done in the diseased gut, a study in Romania studied the effect of MegaSporeBacterium in human patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The effect was compared with patients who either received a short-term treatment with rifaximin followed by a nutraceutical or low FODMAP (Fermentable, Oligo-, Di-, Monosaccharide and Polyol) diet. All three treatments had a similar decrease in the severity of symptoms, though patients taking MegaSporeBiotic had a significant improvement in the quality of life.
Another study by Microbiome Labs studied the effect of MegaSporeBiotic in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The study tested three Microbiome Labs products: MegaSporeBiotic, MegaPre, and MegaMucosa. The treatment regimen included all three products given simultaneously. MegaPre is a prebiotic supplement containing nondigestible oligosaccharides (fructooligosaccharides, xylooligosaccharides and galactooligosaccharides). MegaMucosa contains dairy-free immunoglobulins, amino acids (l-proline, l-serine, l-cysteine and l-threonine) and citrus phenols (flavonoids). Compared to patients who did not receive supplements, patients receiving MegaSporeBiotic, MegaPre and MegaMucosa treatment showed positive changes. There was a significant increase in SCFA production and changes to the gut microbiome.
A study funded by Microbiome Labs evaluated the effect of MegaSporeBiotic on an experimental model of a human baby gut. The study created an experimental scenario mimicking the dysfunctions created by antibiotics on the gut microbiome. MegaSporeBiotic™ supplementation following antibiotic-induced dysbiosis had little effect on the recovery of the microbial community activity or composition of the baby gut microbiota.
Another study evaluated MegaSporeBiotic in patients with dietary or metabolic endotoxemia, called “leaky gut syndrome”. Dietary or metabolic endotoxemia is a condition that affects approximately 1/3 of individuals living in Western society. It is characterised by increased serum endotoxin concentration during the first five hours of the post-prandial period following a meal with a high-fat, high-calorie content. The study concluded that 30 days of supplementation with MegaSporeBiotic reduced the symptoms of a leaky gut.
What’s the verdict on MegaSporeBiotic?
Here are my observations on the studies published on MegaSporeBiotic.
- Most of the studies received funding from Microbiome Labs. I know it is common for a pharmaceutical company to conduct and publish multiple studies on its products. Given the obvious financial implications of the positive results, I also know these studies have an inherent bias in favour of the products. Hence, I tend to accept them with a pinch of salt.
- As with most probiotics, many of the studies are in experimental conditions. It is difficult to accurately interprete the results of microbiome studies in a human. However, results in a human tend to be less impactful than in an experimental set up. This is because the product is exposed to various other physiological barriers and interactions in the human body.
- In healthy humans, MegaSporeBiotic did show positive effects. However, why would someone with a healthy gut (and, by corollary, a healthy gut-friendly diet) want to spend big bucks on further improving gut health? I would rather spend the same on a cruise celebrating my good health!
- Effects of MegaSporeBiotic in patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), were not notably different effects from that with a low-FODMAP diet. Hence, while MegaSporeBiotic might help support such patients, you cannot ignore your diet. Remember, lifestyle and mental health also play an essential role in managing IBS. Up to one-third of patients with IBS also experience anxiety or depression. The last thing you would want is to spend money on a placebo while neglecting the underlying condition. IBS needs dietary and behavioural interventions. Avoiding foods with high FODMAPs can help with gut hypersensitivity. A healthy gut-healthy diet can put you on track to a healthy gut microbiome.
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBS) seems to benefit from MegaSporeBiotic. However, keep in mind that this treatment has to be under guidance of your physician. Further, it is only a supportive therapy.
- Current evidence does not show benefit of MegaSporeBiotic in restoring the gut microbiome following antibiotic therapy.
In conclusion, MegaSporeBiotic may have benefits as a supportive therapy for patients with certain gastrointestinal diseases. However, it cannot be a substitute for a gut-friendly diet free of processed foods. There are no shortcuts in life or gut health, either. You can just go to a healthy diet cooked from scratch; you won’t need to look at probiotic supplements. Further, you can prepare many delicious probiotics at home yourself! So put on the apron and get cooking!
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