How VSL#3® Works
Beneficial Bacteria
Scientific studies have shown that VSL#3® provides high concentrations of probiotic bacteria which:
- Provides probiotic bacteria to help protect the gastrointestinal tract 22,35,38,49,64
- Modulates intestinal inflammation 22,35,39,49,64
- Aids in the dietary management of ulcerative colitis (UC), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and an ileal pouch 3,19, 20,33,44,63,66,69
VSL#3® is a high-potency probiotic, containing 8 different strains of beneficial bacteria that were specially selected to produce an optimal composition of beneficial bacteria. The 8 special strains of VSL#3® are:
- Bifidobacterium breve
- Bifidobacterium longum*
- Bifidobacterium infantis*
- Lactobacillus acidophilus
- Lactobacillus plantarum
- Lactobacillus paracasei
- Lactobacillus bulgaricus
- Streptococcus thermophilus
*Recently categorized as B-lactis
450 Billion Live Bacteria at Work
VSL#3® works by colonizing the GI tract with optimal quantities and types of probiotic (“good”) bacteria. These bacteria adhere to the walls of the GI tract and form a barrier that protects the inner layer of the gut from pathogenic (“bad”) bacteria and other toxic substances that can cause inflammation by modulating intestinal defense mechanisms.
In addition, VSL#3® modulates a variety of substances that are involved in the healing of inflammation. For example, VSL#3® has been shown to induce the production of interleukin-10, an important “chemical messenger” that suppresses inflammation. 22,35,39,49,64
Finally, evidence suggests that VSL#3® reduces intestinal permeability by tightening up the junctions between the cells in the outer layer of the intestine (the epithelium).39 If the spaces between the cells of the gut wall become too large, bad bacteria and toxins can leak in, causing inflammation.
Patients with Ulcerative Colitis, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or an Ileal Pouch.
The presence of adequate concentrations of probiotic bacteria is particularly important for people with inflammatory bowel diseases like ulcerative colitis (UC), irritable bowel syndrome, or an ileal pouch. Several studies have shown that patients with UC or an ileal pouch tend to have deficient levels of probiotic bacteria when compared to levels in healthy individuals. This deficiency may result in a specific nutritional need for the daily ingestion of high levels of protective probiotic bacteria to maintain adequate and balanced colonization of the GI tract.
What makes VSL#3® a special probiotic?
