A number of beneficial bacteria (probiotics) have been shown to help with UTIs (urinary tract infections). This is fabulous news because the incidence of UTIs in both women and men, and especially the former, is high and can be life-altering. That’s why we thought it would be useful for you to know about the probiotics that may provide relief from symptoms of UTIs.
A quick review of UTIs
Urinary tract infections are conditions in which the ureter, urethra, bladder, and kidneys may become infected. Most UTIs occur in the bladder, in which case it is known as cystitis. A UTI that spreads to the kidneys is called pyelonephritis.
Women are up to 30 times more likely to develop a UTI than men. The reason behind this difference is that the female urethra is much shorter than that of the male, so it is easier for bacteria to enter the urinary tract. Symptoms of a UTI can include burning or pain when urinating, pressure in the lower abdomen, a strong urge to urinate, foul-smelling urine, bloody urine, having a fever, or feeling weak, tired, or confused.
Read about 4 natural remedies for urinary tract infections
One of the best ways to help prevent UTIs is to practice good bathroom habits. It’s important to remember to wipe from the front to the back after eliminating in the bathroom to help prevent infections.
Which probiotics can help with UTIs
Researchers have been hot on the trail of probiotics that can assist in relieving symptoms and even help in preventing UTIs. In one recent study, for example, the authors explored the activity of five probiotic lactobacilli and two bifidobacteria strains, including Lactobcillus rhamnosus GG, L. fermentum ME-3, L. acidophilus La5, L. plantarum 299v, L. paracasea 8700:2, Bifidobcterium lactis Bb12, and B longum 46.
The investigators discovered that all but one (L. acidophilus La5) of the probiotic strains were helpful against bacteria associated with UTIs. The bacteria they were effective against included Salmonella enterica ssp, S. enterica in microaerobic, Shigella sonnei, and Helicobacter pylori.
Another study looked at the prevention of recurrent UTIs, which are especially common among women. The year-long study found that women who took a combination of L. rhamnosus GR-1 and L. reuteri RC-14 showed about a 50 percent reduction in recurrent UTIs. Women in the control group who took an antibiotic for a year had similar results, but they also showed an increase in antibiotic resistance while those in the probiotic group did not.
Read about understanding probiotics: A profile of good bacteria
Yet another study involved 100 premenopausal women who were randomly given either L. crispatus or placebo after taking antibiotic treatment for a UTI. A recurrent UTI occurred in 15 percent of the women who took the probiotic compared to 27 percent in the placebo group. In addition, the vaginal tract in the women in the probiotic group showed higher levels of colonization of the beneficial bacteria than did the control group. This same probiotic was also associated with a lack of symptoms for urgency urinary incontinence in a 2014 study.
A few more studies have shown the ability of different probiotics to fight urinary tract infections. For example, a laboratory study found that L. salivarius UCM572 and L. acidophilus 01 helped prevent uropathogens stick to the bladder, while another study showed that L. gasseri HLAB414, L. rhamnosus HY7801, L. acidophilus SNUL, L. plantarum AK8-4, and L. acidophilus Antibio300 were also helpful in resisting uropathogens.
What does all of this mean?
If you are looking for probiotics that may help with the prevention or management of urinary tract infections, then you may want to focus on some of the species that have been shown to be effective. According to the research, there are numerous options for consumers. For convenience, it’s suggested you look for supplements that provide several of the proven species. One such brand is Utiva Probiotic Power supplement, which is all-natural, rich in UTI-fighting probiotics, and delivers 30 billion CFUs per dose.
Bottom line
Urinary tract infections have the dubious honor of being the most common outpatient infection. They are a reality for most women: 50 to 60 percent of women can expect to experience a UTI during their lifetime. However, careful selection of a probiotic supplement can help with prevention and alleviating symptoms.
[Editor's Note: Utiva Health has a complete line of products to support urinary tract health as well as their probiotics.]
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