Probiotic Bacteria Induce a ‘Glow of Health’

Tatiana Levkovich, et. al. 2013

Presented by Danielle Hoey

Introduction▪ What is the ‘Glow of Health’ ? The appearance of healthy skin and hair that has been

considered by medicine traditions worldwide as a clinical sign of good health.

▪ Skin and mucosal surfaces of mammalian species are populated by millions of bacteria that impact metabolic effects and have a well-established role in pathways that restore tissue homeostasis and promote overall health.

Rationale ▪ Probiotics may play a role in effecting the ‘glow of health’

associated with youth and reproductive fitness (offspring). ▪ Hypothesis to be addressed: Feeding of probiotic organisms recapitulates beneficial effects

characteristic of youth within aged adult animals (mice). Characteristics of youthful mice that will be addressed:• Shinny Fur• Fast hair growth• Acidic pH• Skin thickness

Animal Model

Used wild type mice aged 40-48 weeks (10-12 m), bred in-house. 10-20 mice per group

All mice were fed standard rodent chow.Female and male mice

Methods • ControlGroup

1 • Probiotic

yogurt • 0.8ml/mouse 3x

weekly

Group 2

• Lactobacillus reuteri

• 350,000 organisms /mouse/day in drinking water.

Group 3

Procedures Lightmeter/ sensory scores

pH electrode

Histopathology

Immunohistochemistry

Results

Mice exhibited shinier Fur 7 days after feeding them probiotic yogurt.

Mice consuming purified L. reuteri bacteria in drinking water had more rapid fur re-growth after Shaving (right) when compared with matched mice drinking regular water (left).

Evaluation of mucosal cell pH shows eating probiotic yogurt or purified probiotic bacteria induce more acidic conditions in skin, oral cavity, vaginal mucosa, and rectum of female mice.

Histomorphometrical analysis reveals significant increase in skin thickness and subcutaneous hair follicles in the probiotic group when compared to control in both genders.

Dietary probiotics increase anagen hair follicles when compared with the control in both genders.Anagen stage predominance. • Telogen=Resting stage• Anagen=Growing stage• Catagen=Transition stage

Discussion/Conclusion ▪ Luxurious hair and flawless skin are widely recognized as a display of

health and reproductive fitness.▪ Results demonstrated that when routinely eating probiotic yogurt imparted

a healthful glow in animal models, and this effect was reproducible by eating purified L. reuteri organisms alone without yogurt supplementation.

Acidic pH coincided with life stages of peak fertility Fast fur re-growth, thickening of skin, and shinny fur coincides with youthful

characteristics that are dominate in environmental interfaces and facilitate host survival and reproductive success.

Overall, this research demonstrates that under favorable conditions, probiotic bacteria are passed from mother to offspring conveying evolutionary success or in other words (increased chance for survival) in mammalian hosts (Us!)