By Dr.HMT

It is a common occurrence for individuals to experience stomach pain or indigestion. Although most often resolve on their own without treatment, some cases may be attributed to gastritis, a health condition that I have observed in numerous patients throughout my clinical practice. 

Gastritis can be traditionally managed by lifestyle changes and certain medications. However, with the growing body of evidence supporting the role of gut bacteria in gastrointestinal issues, probiotics have gained their spotlight in the management of gastritis.

What is Gastritis?

Gastritis is a condition in which the lining of the stomach becomes inflamed. It can happen suddenly (acute gastritis) or appear slowly over time (chronic gastritis). When the inflammation gets worsen and erodes the layer underneath, gastritis can lead to stomach ulcers and an increased risk of stomach cancer. However, for most people, it typically goes away after sustained treatment and improved lifestyle factors.

Causes of gastritis

One of the most common causes of gastritis is a bacterial infection called Helicobacter pylori. It is also a major cause of stomach ulcers. 

Other factors that can cause a gastritis flare-up, include

• Alcohol abuse
• Use of painkiller medications (NSAIDs) for an extended period
• Stressful events (after surgery, injury, or trauma)
• Some autoimmune disorders and food allergies

Symptoms of gastritis

People with gastritis typically experience

• Upper abdominal pain, which may be described as burning or aching, and may be aggravated by food 
• Indigestion  
• Bloating and abdominal fullness after eating 
• Nausea and vomiting   
• Loss of appetite  

How can probiotics help with gastritis?

Probiotics help heal the stomach lining

A healthy gut microbiome is essential for maintaining a healthy stomach lining. Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that can help to restore balance to the gut microbiome. These good bacteria in your gut will protect the stomach from harmful bacteria, and also help to repair any damage that may have been done to the stomach lining.

Probiotics can suppress the growth of H.pylori

A recent study published in the BMC Gastroenterology journal showed that probiotics can be effective in eradicating H. pylori through methods such as altering the gut microbiome, secreting antibacterial substances, enhancing mucus production, competitive inhibition, and modulating immune function.

Probiotics can minimize the side effects of gastritis treatment

The antibiotics used in H. pylori eradication can not distinguish between good and bad bacteria. They can wreak havoc on the healthy gut bacteria. This disruption in the balance of gut flora can lead to gastrointestinal side effects, most commonly diarrhea. Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that can restore a healthy gut microbiome and prevent or alleviate antibiotic-associated diarrhea.

So, are probiotics effective for gastritis?

Yes, they are.

Effectiveness is well proved in clinical trials.

Probiotics supplementation has been clinically proven to improve cure rates, decrease the side effects of antibiotics, and maintain the host gut microflora balance.

More research is needed in this area.

The specific strain, dosage, and duration of probiotic supplementation need further study before clinical applications.

Probiotic Strains That Can Work Best for Gastritis

The most widely studied probiotics in the management of gastritis are lactic acid bacteria, namely Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species.

The most frequently used strains were 

• Lactobacillus johnsonii La1
• Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG
• Lactobacillus casei
• Lactobacillus acidophilus
• Lactobacillus brevis
• Lactobacillus gasseri OLL2716
• Lactobacillus reuteri
• Bifidobacterium lactis
• Bifidobacterium animalis
• Bifidobacterium breve and probiotic yeast S. boulardii.

Gastritis-friendly diet

Managing gastritis is not all about medications and probiotic supplements. Eating a gastritis-friendly diet reduces stomach inflammation, relieves symptoms, and prevents complications.

Don’t!

Spicy foods, junk foods, fatty foods, carbonated drinks, and caffeinated drinks can make things worse for gastritis and therefore should be avoided. Also, limit alcohol consumption since drinking alcohol too often or too much in a short period irritates stomach mucosa.

Do!

On the contrary, consuming high-fiber foods (such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and beans), probiotic foods, low-fat foods, foods with low acidity, non carbonated drinks, and caffeine-free drinks can reduce the chance of gastritis flare-ups.

The bottom line

According to current research, the best probiotics for gastritis are generally from the Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria species. Along with a healthy diet, probiotics may be of great help to people experiencing gastritis. 

Nonetheless, understanding the cause of gastritis is still vital to its effective management. So, If you are experiencing gastritis symptoms, make sure to consult and follow the recommendations of your healthcare professional.

My choice of best probiotics for gastris

Optibac Probiotics Every Day – Digestive Probiotic

I particularly like this product because it has just about right amount in terms of dose and strains involved. It has gut calming strains such as L rhamnosus, acidophillus and Bifidobacterium longum and so on with a total of 5 billion CFUs.

The reason I say right amount for everything is that I finds 5-10 Billion CFU is the most suitable for most of my patients and around 5-10 strains of microbiomes to be most tolerable.

Culturelle Digestive Daily Probiotics Capsules

Culturelle Digestive Daily Probiotics Capsule is more of a specialized product containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG for gut-related symptoms such as bloating, gas, and diarrhea.

L rhamnosus combined with inulin ( prebiotics) helps calm bowel inflammation and thus helps mainly with symptom control related to inflammation and also regulates good bowel habits which are very important for people with diverticular diseases.

I recommend this product, especially for those who can not tolerate multiple strains of products with very high CFUs.

VSL 3 for Inflammatory Bowel

VSL 3 for Inflammatory Bowel Probiotics is a premium product with multiple strains of microbiomes and very high amounts CFUs.

This is particularly for those who want a high-quality product with a shotgun approach.

This product contains the most promising strains from Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Streptococcus ( three major groups of gut microorganisms) aiming to reduce inflammation associated with infection, or autoimmune such as inflammatory bowel diseases.

Some people might find it difficult to tolerate, especially in the first month of taking it but most people will find significant improvement of symptoms and most of the side effects are usually tolerable for most of my patients and goes away after taking it for few days.

Dr formulated probiotics

Dr. Formulated Probiotics is manufactured by Garden of Life, well known due to the use of high-quality raw materials. I chose this product at the top of the list because it has a decent amount of CFU – 50 billion, and contains all of the species known to have a good effect on Gastrointestinal symptoms such as bloating, pain, and gas.

This is more of an all-in-one approach product with a reasonable price including almost all of best performing Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species combined with Prebiotic fibres.

Why I would recommend

It is dairy free, vegan, and free from any genetically modified ingredients.

• CFU – 50 Billion
• Resistant to stomach acid
• Excellent micro bacterial diversity
• Dairy-free, gluten-free, soy-free
• No refrigeration required
• Once a day formula

Why I would not recommend

• high CFU and too many strains can be difficult to tolerate for some people
• not include Strep strain and little prebiotics content for better bowel movement

Balance one probiotic

Balanceone probiotics come with 15 Billion CFU, arguably one of the lowest doses however this particular brand has special tech in the capsule called “ timed release:” which means microbiomes are only released in the intestinal giving its maximum effect.

It does come with various strains of Lactobacillus including L acidophilus, L casei, Bifidobacterium including Brevis which will help to create an optimal bacterial environment to reduce inflammation, and repair intestinal epithelium.

Similar to Garden of Life, it also has some the prebiotics such as Guar Gum, turmeric, etc.

• Contains prebiotics
• 15 Billion CFUs Of Probiotic Bacteria
• 12 Proven Strains
• Shelf-Stable
• Time-Release Tablets – released slowly over 8-10 hours
• Prebiotic Included
• Tablets form which has been tested to show more resistance against stomach acid

Portion Master Gastrointestinal Support Probiotics Plus

Apart from the usual gut microbiomes, Portion Master Probiotics also comes with Bifidobacterium longum which has immune regulating properties showing benefits in conditions such as allergies, and eczema.

It has a decent 30 billion CFU which is just about the right dose for gastrointestinal conditions.

Miracle Green Probiotics

Miracle Green is a budget-friendly product that covers all the basics such as a good bacterial profile, has 50billion CFU, and stomach acid resistance.

The company has a reputation for the high standard of manufacturing processes in the UK, ensuring that quality is guaranteed.