What are Spore-Based Probiotics?
Spore-based probiotics are produced by bacteria found mainly in soil and contain endospores, which encase the probiotic strain, making it tolerant to heat, light, and harsh conditions, including those of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Traditionally, they have been consumed in freshly-harvested produce, spring and well water, and in fermented foods; however, very little of these bacteria are left in the processed foods we consume today.
Many of the spore-based probiotics fall under the genus Bacillus and have higher tolerance for stomach acid and bile salts. The endospores represent the bacteria’s survival strategy and are some of the most durable types of cells found in nature. Bacillus endospores have been isolated from amber more than 25 million years old, showing their resilience and protective capability. Some parts of the GI tract represent a toxic environment for aerobic probiotic bacteria, due to the absence of oxygen, low pH, bile salts, and high concentration of commensal bacteria competing for nutrients. The endospores remain inert to these conditions and facilitate the transit of the spore-based probiotics through the GI tract in order to reach the intestines.
The Gut-Skin Axis
Spore-based probiotics have been shown to support the health of the GI tract by supporting the immune system, modulating the composition of the GI microbiome, and promoting the synthesis of enzymes, vitamins, and various antimicrobials. Similarly to the protective role of the GI microbiome, the skin microbiome also acts as a barrier to pathogens from the external environment. The relationship between the health of the GI microbiome and that of the skin microbiome is referred to as the gut-skin axis. A healthy, balanced, and diverse GI microbiome may play an important role for skin health. Conversely, an imbalance of the GI microbiome may contribute to skin inflammation and various skin disorders including acne, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and rosacea.
Spore-Based Probiotics Support Healthy-Looking Skin
Compromised intestinal barrier function (a.k.a. intestinal permeability) can lead to endotoxemia (the elevation of lipopolysaccharides in the bloodstream), which may impact the skin and contribute to the development of acne, eczema, and psoriasis. A randomized controlled trial (n = 75) examined the effect of oral spore-based probiotic consisting of Bacillus indicus, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus coagulans, Bacillus licheniformis, and Bacillus clausii on reducing dietary endotoxemia. The study concluded that the 30-day spore-based probiotic supplementation may reduce symptoms indicative of intestinal permeability.
By balancing the microbiome and supporting GI health, digestion, and absorption, probiotics can play an important role in decreasing inflammation, improving skin tone, supporting skin hydration, and increasing the amount of collagen in the skin. Probiotics may also help slow down skin photoaging, caused by solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR), by supporting several important pathways including reducing oxidative stress, inhibiting extracellular matrix modeling, mitigating inflammatory cascade reactions, and maintaining immune homeostasis. A randomized controlled trial (n = 25) found that participants supplemented with oral spore-based probiotics, such as Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus coagulans, and Bacillus clausii, for four weeks showed improved skin barrier function and decreased facial sebum excretion rate and acne lesion counts.
In addition to improving the composition of the GI microbiome and mitigating intestinal permeability, spore-based probiotics have also been shown to produce acid metabolites, such as lactic acid, which can be helpful in maintaining the skin’s normal pH range and optimizing skin health. Bacillus coagulans has also been shown to promote antigen-presenting cells and mitigate stress-induced reactive oxygen species and to produce extracellular polysaccharides which have demonstrated antioxidant and radical-scavenging properties. By mitigating the formation of ROS, spore-based probiotics may moderate the loss of collagen (the main structural protein of the skin) and support the skin’s hydration, elasticity, and healthy aging.
Learn more about spore-based probiotics:
Spore-Based Probiotics: Guardians of Gut Health
Balance Bacteria with Spore-Based Probiotics
By Antonia Toupet, PhD
Designs for Health has been dedicated to being the most trusted source for superior quality, science-based nutritional products for nearly three decades. We’re committed to maximizing successful health outcomes by providing healthcare practitioners with comprehensive support through our extensive product line, ongoing clinical education, and practice development programs. The blogs we publish here cover a range of topics, including new and original approaches to diet and healthcare, analyses of the latest cutting-edge research, deep-dives into specific nutrients, botanicals, nutraceuticals and more, all fully referenced for those who want to dig deeper into the primary literature.
