Bacillus Laterosporus – Know the Facts

When it comes to probiotics and their positive effects on human health, you are most likely to come across a couple of ‘famous’ names, some strains that are used more often than others in various blends, and a considerable handful of types that you can only find in very specific products. All things considered, it’s pretty fair to say that a probiotic like Bacillus laterosporus easily falls into the third category – but why is it actually so?

Probiotics and Bacillus laterosporus

We have all at least heard about probiotics by now – after all, these ‘friendly’ microorganisms are marketed left and right by food companies and supplement manufacturers alike as the next best thing for overall wellness.

The bottom line is that they are not wrong in doing so, with probiotics been increasingly seen as a potential panacea for anything from gastrointestinal and urogenital issues to skin problems, cardiovascular diseases, and even mental imbalances.

Since the majority of probiotics are a natural part of the human body, external supplementation comes as a normal reflex in light of their capacity to meliorate digestive processes, increase immunity, and regularize hormonal levels.

Their presence can be observed as early as the first days of an infant’s life, with natural birth and breastfeeding having a great contribution to the correct establishment of a healthy and life-long internal microbiota for any individual.

There is also the instance of plant-derived or soil based probiotics, which have recently come into the focus of specialized studies for their possible participation in gut wellness and proper functionality. Such is the case for Bacillus laterosporus, a probiotic bacterium first discovered at the beginning of the 1980’s in Iceland.

By simultaneously examining the elevated fertility of the soil and the wholesomeness of the local vegetation, specialists were able to determine that a certain strain of the Bacillus laterosporus species was responsible with providing optimal conditions for local flora to thrive in.

Bacillus laterosporus was thus classified as an aerobic (meaning it develops in an oxygen-rich environment) and spore-forming microorganism. Nowadays, it can also be found under the name Brevibacillus laterosporus.

Returning to the matter of probiotic selection (or the lack of it), you should know that one key aspect regarding both the popularity and profitability of these ‘good’ bacteria is how well-known they are by the wide public of possible consumers.

So, in general, companies that employ these ‘good’ bacteria require extensive and/ or groundbreaking studies related to a specific strain in order to even start considering its inclusion into one or several of their representative products.

As for Bacillus laterosporus, it would seem that research still has a lot of catching up to do in order for it to reach the same level of ‘stardom’ as Lactobacillus acidophilus or Bifidobacterium bifidum, for example.

Still, the current papers centred on this particular ‘friendly’ bacterium have shown its predominantly advantageous role for human health, which should then encourage both further studies and manufacturers to include Bacillus laterosporus in their iconic products.

Sources of Bacillus laterosporus

When we think about probiotic sources, we usually picture natural yogurts or certain types of cheeses such as Gouda and Emmental, let’s say. This is because most of the ‘good’ bacteria we encounter through advertisements of all sorts are originally dairy-based and therefore easier to add into the makeup of these foods after pasteurization is completed (because high temperatures eliminate probiotic colonies).

But, unlike lactic-acid bacteria from the Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium genera, Bacillus laterosporus does not occur naturally in the fermentation process of milk or even that of most vegetables, for that matter (due to pesticides, pollutants, etc).

Pair this with the (still) reduced number of scientific studies focused on Bacillus laterosporus and you will understand the reluctance of some companies to make use of this bacterium as their starter culture or probiotic booster to begin with.

On the other hand, Bacillus laterosporus has gained considerable momentum in the context of dietary supplements aimed at probiotic enhancement. From pills and powders to different organism concentrations (CFUs or colony-forming units), you are very likely to find this probiotic element in a wide variety of strain combinations and price-quality formats on today’s international supplement market.

Not only does Bacillus laterosporus present itself as the perfect candidate in this sense due to its great resistance to manipulation, storage, and temperature or pH fluctuations (it does not require refrigeration), but it also exhibits a number of health properties which we would otherwise not gain if it were not for such concentrated supplements.

The benefits of using Bacillus laterosporus

As previously mentioned, Bacillus laterosporus represents a particularly resistant probiotic microorganism, which theoretically should make it the ideal candidate for gastrointestinal passage and subsequent improvement of digestive functions.

Most Bacillus laterosporus strains provide only transitory effects on the stomach and intestines, with colonies beginning to subside in number and intensity after approximately 3 days.

Nevertheless, this otherwise temporary effect of Bacillus laterosporus could be prolonged through sustained supplementation in various forms (with commercial enhancers being the simplest and most practical option these days).

The short-lived lifespan of this probiotic inside the human gut is compensated by Bacillus laterosporus’ ability to withstand the harsher conditions of gastric acid and pH variations which otherwise could significantly damage more ‘sensitive’ probiotic strains.

In addition, Bacillus laterosporus is currently considered as a safe and beneficial bacterium for gut wellness, with a number of supplements promising meliorated patterns of food decomposition, bowel motility, and nutrient assimilation.

Studies looking at the gastric and intestinal support offered by Bacillus subspecies – Bacillus laterosporus as well – have shown that such bacteria accelerate the natural enzymatic activities of the body, thus ameliorating metabolic rates. This more regularized nutritional intake could then lead to a maximized form of weight management, as well as better cardiovascular and overall health in time.

One of the most prolific areas of research currently linked to Bacillus laterosporus is that of antibacterial and immune support. You may not be aware of it, but your immune system depends up to 70-80% on the number of live probiotic cultures present in your gut on a day-to-day basis.

This phenomenon is owed to the antiseptic properties of probiotics, which target pathogens entering the organism and inhibit their development (through lactic acid, hydrogen peroxide, etc.). It is extremely important to have such an internal defense mechanism to rely on, especially since viruses and microbes are becoming increasingly more resistant to pharmaceutical grade drugs.

A big issue of contemporary times is that of gastrointestinal infections, since they are so easy to come in contact with (contaminated food, water or persons) and can become very strong in their exhibited symptoms (bloody urine and/or diarrhea, prolonged fatigue, visceral pain, etc.).

Luckily, Bacillus laterosporus has been proven to react as an inhibitor for various fungi and similar pathogens which could affect the digestive system and other parts of the body as well.

For instance, Candida albicans is widely known for its ability to create extensive and painful yeast infections, especially in the urogenital area. Consequently, Bacillus laterosporus enhancement should boost your organism’s natural immunomodulatory functions so as to combat such issues in the early stages.

This is particularly helpful in light of the fact that, despite their elevated potency, medicine like antibiotics cannot be employed in similar cases because they could actually aggravate your condition. Why? Well, this happens because probiotics are more selective in killing off potential health threats, whereas antibiotics do away with all bacteria at once (regardless of whether they are ‘good’ or ‘bad’).

In other words, relying on probiotics like Bacillus laterosporus to prevent and alleviate diverse episodes of gastric upset, visceral cramping or vaginal discomfort should benefit you more than simply waiting to fall back on traditional modes of restoring your wellness.

Moreover, Bacillus laterosporus extends its antibacterial properties beyond the abdominal area, with the respiratory system also benefiting from this probiotic’s anti-germ capacities.

One recent experiment revealed that Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains which were otherwise highly immune to traditional forms of treatment responded positively to Bacillus laterosporus enhancement, with both the intensity and duration of said tuberculosis cases being significantly ameliorated through this probiotic.

Again, today’s severe lack of extensive research on Bacillus laterosporus greatly hinders our ability to understand and utilize this probiotic to its full potential. As time will pass and more information in this sense will have accumulated, we should hope to have a better knowledge of Bacillus laterosporus’ influence on the human body and mind alike.

Bacillus laterosporus and its side effects

Despite being categorized as a spore-forming bacterium, Bacillus laterosporus has been long ago declared fit for human consumption as a probiotic enhancer. Even so, there are a few circumstances in which not even the safest of probiotics is considered fit for usage.

The first situation in which you are advised to avoid Bacillus laterosporus (and general probiotic) supplementation is if you are suffering from a severely weakened or compromised immune system.

With your body being placed in a position of low immunomodulatory response, it hence facilitates bacterial translocation and subsequent vulnerability in the face of infections such as sepsis (a health emergency in which your blood becomes ‘poisoned’ by foreign pathogens).

Similarly, certain gastrointestinal problems (short-bowel syndrome) or medical interventions (undergoing an organ transplant procedure) also require that you limit your probiotic intake to a minimum. The same goes for the prolonged periods of time when you are using certain prescription drugs like immunosuppressants or antidepressants, if you are under the age of 18 years old or if you are a pregnant/ nursing mother.

In fact, the best course of action before starting a regime based on Bacillus laterosporus enhancement is to consult with your doctor or personal physician and see to what degree this probiotic is compatible with your medical history, current lifestyle, etc.

Why you should choose Bacillus laterosporus as a probiotic enhancer?

At first glance, Bacillus laterosporus might appear as a singular or even peculiar choice of probiotics these days.

But rest assured that this small, yet highly beneficial microorganism has all the potential it needs to reach the limelight of its more well-known counterparts and become tomorrow’s go-to ‘good’ bacterium.

All it needs is a bit more scientific interest and a small push from you, the consumer willing to trust Bacillus laterosporus’ capacity to turn your life around – for the better, that is!