Comments on: Probiotics for IBS – study review

By: Seth Kaplan

Seth Kaplan — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 12:16:30 +0000

Actually, some neurologists have understood the connection between receptor sites for decades! Here is how it was described to me: (1) serotonin leaves the brain for one of the many reasons that starts the migraine process; (2) serotonin likes to hide on gut receptor sites and does so; (3) after about :30 minutes, the receptor sites release dopamine, which goes to the brain, initiating the migraine.
There is a way to stop the serotonin from hiding in the receptor sites. It’s an old prescription antihistamine called periactin, or cyproheptadine. A little 10Mg pill, it attaches to the gut receptors and blocks the serotonin from hiding there. When they can’t hide, they return to the brain (a nice rush!). When taken within the :30-minute window, periactin averts the migraine, which is a nice ending to this story. The only proviso is that one cannot take periactin if one also takes an SSRI.
Hope this helps!

By: Mark

Mark — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 19:38:08 +0000

It’s taken me years to realize that not only histamine, but tyramine, are implicated in inducing manias in me(I have rapid cycling bipolar). Along with fermented foods, including yogurt & kefir, tomatoes, chocolate, avacados, bananas, almonds, pickled fish & all alcohol contain tyramine.

I’ve used probiotics in the past but I’ve gradually become sensitive to so many foods that I’m going to flood my gut with both liquid and capsulated probiotics since my doctor doesn’t know what to do with me. So much for having health insurance, lol.

Mark

By: Michael

Michael — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 00:38:19 +0000

great post–
I have had migraines for years, and knew they were linked to my diet, specifically dairy. Then in 2007, I got food poisoning and developed IBS as a result. The curious thing was that my migraines went away with the arrival of the IBS. Every time I ate dairy, I would then get diarrhea and all sorts of pains. Eventually I read Dr. Pimental’s (sp) book “a new IBS solution” regarding IBS and bacteria, and I altered my diet and took culturelle (/lactaid when eating dairy), and my IBS pretty much went away, but my headaches came back! One day I read about the tyramine/histamine production by bacteria involved in food production (cheese, sausage, etc). and it was an epiphany for me.
I still am trying to get the right situation going on in my gut, but I suffer from fewer migraines than in the past and have very infrequent IBS symptoms, unless I really go nuts on the cheese!

Michael

By: Soraya

Soraya — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 14:08:58 +0000

Sincerely appreciated James.

Clinical trials on the products are listed at the bottom of each product page on the website, or also on the Evidence and Testimonials section. – http://www.optibacprobiotics.co.uk/optibac-probiotics-evidence-testimonials.html
Alternativley, you can read up on survival of stomach acidity etc with the Institut Rosell, who manufacture probiotic strains for OptiBac.

By: James

James — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:20:30 +0000

I would love to see some independent research on OptiBac Probiotics. I have chosen to mention the brand I have mentioned after reading independent research on, for example, how much of the active ingredients actually survive long enough. Many companies make great claims, but it’s hard to know which is the best until you see some studies done.

By: Soraya

Soraya — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 12:31:16 +0000

The UK company OptiBac Probiotics offers a range of probiotics which are tailored to specific needs. ‘For daily wellbeing’ is multi-strain, shelf stable, with added prebiotics (food for the probiotics to grow) and gives 5 billion micro organisms per daily dose, guaranteed right up until the end of the expiry date. Worth checking out!

By: James

James — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 12:36:48 +0000

You’re welcome.

By: Donna | Eat Healthier

Donna | Eat Healthier — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 22:38:44 +0000

Interesting article. There are so many things in our modern diets and lifestyles that can kill these beneficial gut bacteria that it’s important to make sure we re-establish them. Our intestinal flora is not just ‘nice to have’ it’s essential, and not surprising that lack of healthy gut bacteria is a cause or contributor to IBS. The reason I’ve not used probiotics yet is exactly because I know that not all are going to be created equal and I don’t want to waste my money on something that’s not going to do the job. Thanks for your recommendation.

By: James

James — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 12:46:15 +0000

Thanks for mentioning that, Mary Kay. I believe that is and important connection, which is why I keep coming back to talking about the gut.

By: Mary Kay

Mary Kay — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 16:50:07 +0000

One theory about the connection between IBS, migraine and anxiety lies in the receptor sites involved in each. The are called 5HT receptors..most are in the gut (IBS!) and many types are in the brain and known to be involved in migraine and anxiety. Although the exact link hasn’t been made yet, it would make sense that when one group fires off..the others might.

This could explain why in the middle of a migraine, many people have more anxiety and even diarrhea.