Just curious...I discovered probiotics a few months ago and it has done great things for my youngest daughter when she gets a cold. Seems to keep the cold from getting out of control and it's shorter in length. I did notice a post that mentioned probiotics in helping GERD, and I'm curious how this could help. I'm all for homeopathic help and if I thought a probiotic could help her reflux, I'd love to use it when she's not sick.

I'd love to hear more. What can you tell us about probiotics?

I wish I knew more about it! There are a couple parents here who use probiotics like acidopholus, and give yogurt for the live cultures. Maybe they can describe it more...

Hopefully someone can answer my question on the probiotic/reflux, but here is what I know about Probiotics. Essentially it is good bacteria. You can find the same stuff in yogurt with live cultures, but many kids/people won't eat it or can't tolerate yogurt, etc. It's great to give to someone when they are on antibiotics...when a virus or antibiotics attacks the cells in the intestine, you usually end up with diarrhea. A probiotic replaces the good bacteria that is being kicked out due to a cold/virus/antibiotic. It has also been found that it will lessen the severity of a cold/virus and by putting good bacteria in the body, it also is an immune booster. You can purchase a probiotic at a health food store, just make sure you find one with a high bacteria count - the higher the better. For children under 5, most of the time it comes in a powder form. You mix it with juice/formula/milk, 1/2 tsp up to 3x day. I buy Udo's Choice in infant form powder. Great stuff!!!!! Can't say enough good things about it. When my younger daughter with reflux saw a chiropractor for her ears and reflux, he recommended a probiotic because she was on antibiotics almost constantly due to ear infections and colds. I didn't take it seriously then, but wish I had! It was later recommended to me by a health food store owner when my daughter had a cold and boy, I couldn't believe how much difference I saw in her colds post-probiotics to pre-probiotics. Much more manageable! There are no harmful side effects, nothing to be worried about. It's essentially good bacteria for the body. I know some GI's recommend them for children/adults with chronic bowel issues as well.

That's what I know! Now I'm curious what effect they would have on a reflux child.

Hi-
I was just on another site for feeding disorders and one of the moms gave me some info on probiotics. I will copy it here. I just got this info so I haven't had a chance to do research on it yet but this is what she sent me. She daughter had alot of feeding issues and she said the enzymes were very helpful along with eliminating dairy from the diet. I'm not sure what age you can start these enzymes so I don't know if it is appropriate for Sarah who is 5 1/2 months. Maybe some one has the answers to that.Anyway here is the info- it's long.
Karie mom to Sarah SGA,GERD,DGE

E is for Enzymes



By Kelly Dorfman, M.S., Co-founder D.D.R.

Published originally in New Developments, Vol9(1)



Children diagnosed with developmental delays have a high rate of digestive pathology. Studies suggest between 58 and 93% of children with gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms have chronic gut inflammation, reflux or low digestive enzyme activity. Slightly less than half of those without noticeable symptoms have low digestive enzyme activity. Adults can also suffer from weak digestion without knowing it. People adapt to GI symptoms and may consider gas or tiredness after eating “normal”.



While special diets, supplemental nutrients, good bacteria replacement and yeast treatment are all needed to heal the gut, adding enzymes may be necessary for the complete restoration of digestive function.



What are Enzymes?



Enzymes are special proteins that catalyze essential biochemical reactions. There are two main types of enzymes, metabolic and digestive. Metabolic enzymes facilitate activity in the immune, endocrine and other systems. Our focus is on digestive enzymes that break down food.



Where do Enzymes Come From?



Fresh, raw food naturally contains enzymes that aid in digestion. The gut lining in healthy digestive tracts also produces enzymes. Efficient digestion requires enzymes form both sources. The guts of picky eaters, damaged by the overuse of antibiotics and immunizations, may produce too few digestive enzymes. Supplemental digestive enzymes are necessary when the diet and gut together supply insufficient amounts. Can you benefit from supplemental digestive enzymes? Knowing the A, B Cs of enzymes may help you decide.



A is for Appetite (and weight gain)



When enzymes are low, partially digested food sits in the GI tract. The result is discomfort or poor absorption of calories/nutrients. For youngsters with poor appetites, the body message is, “eating feels bad” or “I’m already full”. If a child’s appetite is good but he is not gaining weight, the food delivery trucks are not getting through. Either way, added enzymes can ease GI discomfort or simply increase uptake of nutrients.



B is for Breaking the Malabsorption Cycle



The gut lining requires vitamin A, zinc, protein, B vitamins and other nutrients to regenerate. A healthy, well nourished lining produces more enzymes. When too few enzymes are made, the resulting poor uptake of nutrients leads to an unhealthy gut lining and further deficiency. Many youngsters with developmental delays are picky eaters already so poor absorption can be devastating for brain development. Enzymes help break down food so that vitamins and minerals can be released and utilized.



In adults, malabsorption slowly drains energy leading to chronic fatigue, fuzzy thinking and/or depression. Because the drain of nutrients happens slowly over time, people may not be aware of how exhausted they have become..



C is for Cheating



When small cheats on a restrictive diet cause significant symptoms, this may signal the need for digestive enzymes. A restrictive diet allows the dysfunctional gut to rest and repair itself by removing irritants, thus preventing further damage. Unfortunately, you cannot remove all food so that the gut can truly rest and repair. Even if a food reaction initially caused the GI injury, by the time the food is taken away, the gut may need extra help to get better. In most people there are additional factors such as antibiotic use and immunization reactions that make the clean up more difficult.



Supplemental enzymes can reduce food reactions by breaking the allergens in food into smaller pieces. Some people can “cheat” on the gluten free, casein free diet by using enzymes when gluten or casein is eaten. Others choose not to cheat, but add enzymes to improve digestion so they can bend the diet in the future.



D is for Dysbiosis



Dysbiosis is a term used to describe an imbalance of gut microbes. The symptoms of dysbiosis are gas, bloating, diarrhea and/or constipation. Gas forms when bacteria or yeast in the GI tract ferment food particles. Too much fermentation impairs digestion. While good bacteria (probiotics) can help, if the food remains in big pieces and sits, the population of yeast and bad bacteria will increase to deal with it. This results in more gas and increased dysbiosis. Enzymes serve to break this cycle by completing digestion so food can move into the blood stream and not remain as fodder for gut bugs.



How do I Choose the Right Enzymes?



There are many brands and types of enzymes on the market. Even with laboratory testing, it is difficult to know which will work best until you try. Enzymes are specific for the substance they break down. For example, lipase is an enzyme that only works on fats (lipids). Dipeptyl dipeptidase IV cleaves proteins that have proline in the second position (such as gluten and casein). If a DPP IV enzyme does not help, a different mixed enzyme may.

When the gut is inflamed, as in autistic enterocolitis or inflammatory bowel disease, enzymes can cause more irritation even if a person needs them. Watch for crankiness or worse GI symptoms. When in doubt, take them out and consult with a good health care professional.



Enzymes are a safe and critical part of digestion. Diet elimination is often not enough to heal underlying problems. Consider enzymes as the next step in the digestive healing process.

Hi,

When my first son had a burst ear drum my Ped told me to put him on probiotics- we have Yakult and he has 1 a day. Most kids with ear infections like his need grommets- he hasn't had an ear infection since and no surgery. Also his asthma has decreased a lot and only needs puffers when he has a cold. Also his eczema has disappeared (except when he is sick). Coming from a family with high eczema and asthma this is real good.

I donn't know why I just know it works.

I try real hard to get parker the refluxer to drink it but he wont- so I haven't seen the benefits on reflux.

Also the ped told me at the moment they are doing studies on pregnant women and making them have probiotics everyday and that the rate of children with asthma and eczema is real low.

We live in a society which through bad eating, not enough fresh foods, and chemicals we kill the good bacteria in our bodies and these are needed so the probiotics replace them.

In Australia they also have told us told to stop sterilising bottles and things as this is killing the good bacteria as well.

Hope this helps
Rachel

Probiotics and enzymes are different. As well, there are many different types of digestive enzymes, all of which do different things.

See this thread for a good link on probiotics: http://www.infantrefluxdisease.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=359&highlight=probiotics

I spent a great deal of time reading about all this stuff when Shae was a baby, that's back when I was going to cure reflux :roll:.

Here's a good site for info about enzymes: http://www.enzymestuff.com/

It's really fascinating stuff and makes total sense that by supplementing with some of this stuff digestion/reflux would improve. It's easy to get pulled into the thoughts of it being a miracle cure though, and it's really not. At least for Shae it wasn't.

Something else we tried along these same homopathic type lines was aloe vera juice. This actually for a short time I thought may have helped. After starting this we noticed the biggest difference in Shae. Unfortunately, it didn't last so either it stopped helping, or her improvement was simply coincedental.

Also remember to discuss this stuff with a doctor or health professional first before trying anything.

Let me know how this works out for you all! I'm not sure my son is old enough (3.5 months) to take them. Do you know if probiotics would transfer through breastmilk?

I spent a small fortune on homeopathic and naturpathic treatments- they did not work. I used probiotics for myself for UTI, it gave me awful gas. The naturopath gave me probiotics for Maiya , I gave her half a dose and she hollered for 2 days with gas pains.

My experience was not successful.

Noah receives Multidophilus 3x's a day, we have noticed a slight change in the amount of loose stools he has each day. He has been recieving them for about 3 months now.