The premise of much of what I do is exploring dysfunction in the gut-brain axis. This dysfunction in its many forms can produce excellent healing opportunities when interventions are put in place. Identifying specific infections, toxins, gut microbiota overgrowth, nutritional deficiencies and methylation challenges can greatly improve the outcome of clients, as I’ve witnessed for several years. Equally as critical is identifying which particular interventions (a.k.a. what type of probiotic) is best suited for each unique case.
The medical field is recognizing the importance of these interventions and helping us learn how further we as practitioners can support our clients.
A recent review exemplifies the importance of recognizing gut dysbiosis (imbalance) and the use of pre and pro biotics. The outcomes are worth noting particularly among the neonates and the drug-resistant epilepsy patients.
“Recently, changes in the bacterial composition of the GM (gut microbiota) have also been linked to epilepsy and seizures, with some studies exploring the potential role of GM in the regulation of neuronal hyperexcitability, seizure occurrence and epileptogenesis.”
Table 1. Preclinical and clinical studies on epilepsy and probiotics.
| Title | Year | Population | Outcomes | Strength | Limitations | References |
| Probiotics and Nigella sativa extract supplementation improved behavioral and electrophysiological effects of PTZ-induced chemical kindling in rats | 2020 | Epileptic models rats | Probiotics and Nigella sativa extract supplementation had inhibitory effects on kindling | High sample size and model of kindling | (Tahmasebi et al., 2020) | |
| Effect of probiotic supplementation on seizure activity and cognitive performance in PTZ-induced chemical kindling | 2019 | Epileptic models rats | Probiotics diminish epileptic activity | Model of kindling | Limited sample size | (Bagheri et al., 2019) |
| Neonatal seizures and white matter injury: Role of rotavirus infection and probiotics | 2018 | Neonates | Immediate administration of probiotics after birth may reduce rotavirus-associated neonatal seizures | High sample size | (Yeom et al., 2019) | |
| The beneficial effect of probiotics as a supplementary treatment in drug-resistant epilepsy: a pilot study. | 2018 | Drug-resistant epilepsy patients | Improve frequency of seizures and quality of life | Paired samples | Not placebo arm | (Gómez-Eguílaz et al., 2018) |
PTZ, Pentylenetetrazol.
Table 2. Different probiotics used in epilepsy and related studies.
| Article | Tipe of product | Composition | Commercialized | References |
| Probiotics and Nigella sativa extract supplementation improved behavioral and electrophysiological effects of PTZ-induced chemical kindling in rats | Probiotics and Nigella sativa | Lactobacillus (L. casei, L. acidophilus) and Bifidobacterium (B. bifidum) | Provita© | (Tahmasebi et al., 2020) |
| Effect of probiotic supplementation on seizure activity and cognitive performance in PTZ-induced chemical kindling | Probiotics | Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus reuteri and Bifidobacterium infantis | Pedilact© | (Bagheri et al., 2019) |
| Neonatal seizures and white matter injury: Role of rotavirus infection and probiotics | Probiotics | Saccharomyces boulardii and only one took Lactobacillus casei | Not Commercialized | (Yeom et al., 2019) |
| The beneficial effect of probiotics as a supplementary treatment in drug-resistant epilepsy: a pilot study | Probiotics | Lactobacillus acidophilus DSM32241, Lactobacillus plantarum DSM32244, Lactobacillus casei DSM32243, Lactobacillus helveticus DSM32242, Lactobacillus brevis DSM11988, Bifidobacterium lactis DSM32246, B. lactis DSM32247 and Streptococcus salivarius subsp. thermophilus DSM32245. | Sivoy© | (Gómez-Eguílaz et al., 2018) |
Bringing much light,
Lynn
