How the digestive system affects immunity

Dr. Pham Le Duy (Lecturer of Physiology - Pathophysiology - Immunology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City) said as above, adding that a healthy digestive system plays a core role in building the overall health of each person. A healthy digestive system has many healthy components, meaning the ratio of beneficial bacteria living is greater than harmful bacteria in the intestinal microflora with the ideal level being 85% beneficial bacteria - 15% harmful bacteria.

Explaining further, Dr. Le Duy said that bacteria that reside in the intestines create an ecosystem that can affect the function of the entire body, including the immune system. The immune system, with about 70-80% of immune cells concentrated in the intestines, along with the white blood cell system in the blood and infiltrating organs such as the nose, throat, lungs, etc., helps protect the body against pathogens, including viruses that cause influenza. Beneficial bacteria in the intestines help produce antibodies, enhance the function of immune cells and create a barrier to prevent bacteria and viruses from entering.

Dr. Pham Le Duy

Photo: NVCC

Dr. Le Duy added that the intestinal microflora is formed when each person is born, based on the microflora inherited from the mother. This microflora develops and gradually improves depending on the environment and living habits of each person. This microflora also gradually diversifies and develops, constantly changing.

In daily life, unhealthy habits such as eating a lot of processed foods, eating less green vegetables, fiber or stress, using antibiotics... all cause the intestinal microflora to change and become unbalanced. The increasingly polluted living environment also creates conditions for harmful bacteria to develop, easily entering the human body through food and drink, competing with beneficial bacteria in the intestines. When the intestinal microflora is unbalanced, it will affect the immune system, weakening the body's resistance. "Maintaining a healthy diet and supplementing beneficial bacteria every day will help maintain the optimal balance of intestinal microflora," emphasized Dr. Pham Le Duy.

The doctor explained that food, in addition to nourishing the body, is also food for bacteria in the intestines. Fiber found in vegetables and fruits, good fats in seeds, olive oil, etc. will help nourish beneficial bacteria. However, this source of nutrients is still not enough for the development and stability of the intestinal microflora. In addition to providing food for beneficial bacteria, each person should regularly "implant" additional strains of beneficial bacteria in the intestines with foods containing beneficial bacteria, also known as "probiotics".

There are many foods that already contain probiotics such as yogurt, cheese, kimchi, natto. However, because the stomach has a very strong acidic environment, many probiotics from food can be destroyed in the stomach before reaching the intestines. Products containing good probiotic strains that have a high survival rate when passing through the stomach will be a suitable choice to supplement probiotics for the intestines. Currently, there is a probiotic strain Lactobacillus paracasei , also known as L.Casei 431 ^TM, which has been widely used in foods. According to Dr. Duy, more than 90 scientific studies have proven that this probiotic strain works effectively in the intestines, has a high survival rate after passing through the stomach, reaching the small intestine and being effective in the large intestine.

L.Casei 431 ^TM probiotics can help increase IgG antibodies (also known as Immunoglobulin G) in plasma after influenza vaccination. IgG is one of 5 types of antibodies produced by the body to protect itself against external infectious pathogens.

Seasonal flu is usually considered a mild illness, but it can lead to serious complications, especially in people with weakened immune systems, the elderly, children and pregnant women. The disease can spread rapidly and needs to be prevented by getting vaccinated on time and fully, wearing masks, regular hygiene and disinfection, and limiting contact with suspected cases. In addition, each person needs to increase resistance through a suitable daily diet.

In Vietnam, probiotic L.Casei431 ^TM has been added to Vinamilk Probi live yogurt drink, with a ratio of 65 billion probiotics in a 65 ml pack, or 13 billion probiotics in a 65 ml bottle. Probiotic L.Casei431 ^TM in Vinamilk Probi product helps increase IgG antibodies by 30% after flu vaccination, while reducing the number of days with flu by 40% (*). The product is also recommended by the Vietnam Medical Association. Vinamilk Probi live yogurt drink brand also has products that not only supplement Probiotics that are good for digestion but also have additional ingredients that support mental health, heal the stomach, reduce anorexia...

(*) Source:

• Giuliano Rizzardini, Dorte Eskesen, Philip C. Calder, Amedeo Capetti, Lillian Jespersen and Mario Clerici (2012). Evaluation of the immune benefits of two probiotic strains Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis , BB-12 ^® and Lactobacillus paracasei ssp. paracasei, L. casei 431 ^® in an influenza vaccination model: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. British Journal of Nutrition , 107, 876–884.
• Lillian Jespersen, Inge Tarnow, Dorte Eskesen, Cathrine Melsaether Morberg, Birgit Michelsen, Susanne Bügel, Lars Ove Dragsted, Ger T Rijkers, and Philip C Calder (2015). Effect of Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei, L. casei 431 on immune response to influenza vaccination and upper respiratory tract infections in healthy adult volunteers: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Volume 101, Issue 6, Pages 1188-1196.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/he-tieu-hoa-anh-huong-de-khang-the-nao-185250423161625786.htm