Symprove could offer safe and efficient solution to control pathogenic bacteria

Oct 4 2017

Symprove three new studies highlight its ability to suppress the growth of pathogenic bacteria and promote a healthier gut environment

Leading food technology company, Symprove Ltd, has demonstrated with three breakthrough studies that their formula has the unique ability to have an antagonistic effect on pathogenic bacteria such as C. difficile, Escherichia coli (AIEC), Shigella sonnei and MRSA.

Leading expert Professor Simon Gaisford of University College London, says:

Symprove is without a doubt the most resilient probiotic that we have tested. The latest data shows that Symprove has a clear inhibitory effect on pathogens, including C. difficile and MRSA, under lab conditions. This is a powerful first step towards using beneficial live bacteria as part of the management of patients with potentially life-threatening infections.

How does this work?

The bacteria in Symprove lowers the pH of the immediate environment and produces by-product substances that inhibit the growth of pathogens. Together these not only supress the growth of certain pathogenic bacteria, but also create an environment better suited for the commensal gut bacteria species to survive and thrive. This powerful two-pronged effect demonstrates that Symprove can inhibit the initial bacteria growth, as well as having an anti-pathogenic action on established colonies of pathogenic bacteria.  

Could this change the way we use antibiotics in the future?

The current treatment protocol for pathogenic bacteria is antibiotic therapy. However, antibiotics have an impact on ALL bacteria in the gut whether pathogenic or not and change the gut environment. This change in environment inhibits the ability for commensal bacteria to grow. At the same time it creates a more hospitable environment for pathogenic bacteria such as AIEC and C. difficile and can often be the reason for reinfection, relapse and why further courses of antibiotics may be administered. Considering these recent findings Symprove may act as a way to positively change the gut environment and restore a healthy gut microbiome rather than just focusing on eradication alone. It could offer a safe, sustainable and efficient solution to controlling pathogenic bacteria whilst supporting commensal bacteria of the microbiome, working synergistically with the gut and its ecosystem.  

The strong effect seen, with only one dose of Symprove indicates that there could be a real opportunity to discover a new and safe method of pathogen control.

The studies

The three new studies, detailed below, clearly highlight these findings.

The first study from UCL (University College London, School of Pharmacy) shows that Symprove inhibits the growth of C. difficile. This effect was achieved by lowering pH levels to a more acidic environment so that pathogenic bacteria were not able to proliferate or survive. In addition, the study showed that the bacteria in Symprove also produced by-product substances that directly inhibited the growth of C. difficile.

Carried out by ProDigest in Belgium, the second study further supports the anti-pathogenic effect of Symprove by demonstrating a significant reduction in the concentration of Escherichia coli (AIEC). This study is particularly important, as it is designed to closely replicate the human digestive system in an in-vivo ‘natural’ condition setting, using a representative colon medium. It also showed that there was a significant reduction in the already established Escherichia coli (AIEC) population.

The third study from UCL highlights that Symprove has an important antagonistic anti-pathogenic effect on established colonies of Escherichia coli (AIEC), Shigella sonnei and MRSA. These are common pathogens that can pose serious difficulties in eradication particularly in immune-compromised individuals.

Dr Bu Hayee of Kings College Hospital adds:

With an unshakeable grounding in scientific rigor. Symprove is the only product which I am happy to be associated with and have witnessed first-hand the powerful beneficial effect. I am keen to take Symprove’s latest findings to C. difficile patients to help in the management of this difficult condition, and am excited that we would not be advising a drug, but helping with a good technology to adjust their microbiome.