Test of the intestinal flora | Intestinal flora

Test of the intestinal flora

Intestinal rehabilitation is particularly useful if there is a bacterial colonisation in the intestinal flora. To find this out, for example after a protracted antibiotic therapy, there are various test procedures. The most important test is the so-called glucose H2 breath test.

This is based on the fact that bacteria in the intestine metabolize glucose, producing molecular hydrogen (H2). This hydrogen then passes from the intestine into the blood, reaches the lungs and is released there via the exhaled air. Before the glucose H2 breath test is performed, an initial value of “H2” is therefore determined in the patient’s exhaled air.

The patient is then given 200ml of a glucose solution to drink. The glucose reaches the intestine and is broken down by the bacteria there. Now the H2 value in the exhaled air of the patient is measured every ten minutes.

If the value rises sharply after drinking the glucose solution, this indicates massive bacterial colonisation of the digestive tract. The lactulose H2 breath test works similarly. Lactulose is a double sugar that cannot be metabolized by the body.

The drunk lactulose solution therefore reaches the large intestine unchanged, where it encounters increased bacterial colonisation. The bacteria can break down lactulose and in turn produce “H2”, which appears in the patient’s exhaled air. Normally, the H2 level in the exhaled air rises about 90 minutes after drinking the solution, as it takes that long for the solution to reach the colon. If the value rises significantly earlier (earlier than 75 minutes after drinking the solution), a bacterial colonisation of the intestine can be assumed. In rare cases, increased intestinal motor activity is the cause of a positive lactulose H2 breath test.

Capsules

Capsules containing probiotic bacterial cultures can be purchased to cleanse the body’s own intestinal flora. These bacterial cultures consist, for example, of various strains of lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria, which are intended to restore the natural balance of the intestinal flora. The capsules are usually taken as part of a complete intestinal rehabilitation over a period of several weeks up to several months.

It is important that the environment in the intestine is prepared accordingly, so that the beneficial bacterial strains also want to settle there again. An alkaline diet helps to optimise the environment. An unfavourable environment, on the other hand, means that the ingested bacteria do not settle and leave the intestine.

Intestinal flora and weight loss

The intestinal flora adapts to the eating habits of a person. Depending on the metabolic situation, the colonization with microorganisms changes. Studies have shown that overweight persons were predominantly colonised with bacteria of the Firmicutes species and that they were less at home with Bacteroides species.

The digestive tract of slim persons, on the other hand, was mainly colonised by Bacteroides species and less by Firmicutes bacteria. According to this, the intestinal flora plays an important role in metabolism and thus also in weight loss. To prevent the Firmicutes bacteria from getting the upper hand, a varied diet with as little sugar as possible should be followed.

A healthy diet shifts the spectrum of intestinal colonisation back in a more positive direction (towards the Bacteroides species), which improves the metabolism of food and facilitates weight loss. Firmicutes species, on the other hand, can impair the success of diets. Ultimately, however, there is only one way to lose weight permanently: a healthy, balanced diet combined with plenty of exercise.