Integrative Therapeutics, Probiotic Pearls 90 Pearls

If pregnant, nursing, or taking prescription drugs, consult your healthcare practitioner prior to use.

Probiotic Pearls do not interfere with the efficacy or activity of commonly prescribed medications.

This product has a tamper-evident blister sheet. Do not use if foil or plastic is punctured!

Oral probiotics help support the composition and metabolic activities of the large intestine microflora.(1) Microflora of the large intestine assist digestion through fermentation (making the intestines inhospitable to invading species), protection against pathogenic bacteria, and stimulation of the development of certain components of the immune system.(3) Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium longum occupy a central role in the gut microflora, thereby enabling them to influence the composition of the microflora to provide health benefits.(4)

Breakdown of Lactose
Lactose is an important sugar that is converted to lactic acid by lactic acid-producing bacteria (such as Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium longum).(6) Lactose intolerance results from an inability to digest lactose.(7) Lactose intolerance may be due to genetics, age related declines in intestinal lactase (the enzyme that metabolizes lactose), or other reasons.(8) Lactase deficient people accumulate non-absorbed lactose in the gastrointestinal tract, which draws water and electrolytes into the gut and accelerates transit time, which can lead to diarrhea.(2)(8) Lactic acid bacteria can help metabolize the non-absorbed lactose in the gastrointestinal tract.

In a randomized, controlled clinical trial, Bifidobacterium longum was shown to support the breakdown of lactose and reduce the symptoms of lactose intolerance (flatulence) in people with lactose intolerance.*(5)

Immune System Support
While a normal microflora is associated with good health, changes in intestinal health are associated with altered immune function. A well-functioning gastrointestinal immune system mediates immune responsiveness at mucosal sites and throughout the entire body via the control of the quality and quantity of foreign substances gaining access to the immune system.(9)

Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium longum have been shown to possess immunoprotective/immunomodulatory properties.* These benefits include modulation of: cytokine and various interleukin production, autoimmunity, natural killer cell cytotoxicity, lymphocyte proliferation, and antibody production.*(3)

In an open, randomized, controlled trial, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum were supportive of colon health in older adults.* In addition, B cell (important antibody producing immune cells) levels increased as compared with the untreated group.* The probiotics were very well tolerated, with no significant side effects or variations in clinical chemistry or hematologic parameters.(11)

Decrease Occasional Constipation
Constipation is defined as infrequent or difficult defecation that can result from decreased motility of the intestines. It is a common problem, particularly in older adults. When the feces remain in the large intestine for prolonged periods, there is excessive water absorption, making the feces dry and hard.(7)

Insufficient amounts of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium longum may play a role in delayed bowel movement, which can favor the activity of undesirable putrefactive bacteria (bacteria that break down organic matter into potentially harmful compounds) in the intestines. Lactic acid bacteria contribute to the re-establishment of healthy intestinal flora (at the expense of pathogen growth) and stimulation of intestinal peristalsis via lactic acid.(10)

Support of Putrefactive Processes
When unbalanced conditions are present in the intestines (ie, unbalanced diet, high acidity, and/or low levels of lactic acid bacteria), organic matter may be putrified (decomposed or rotting) by certain bacteria and produce harmful substances such as ammonia.(1)(11)

Microflora of the large intestine promote homeostasis (balance) in both the intestine and the vagina.(1)(12-13) These activities are carried out via support of direct production of antibodies, competition with adhesion to intestinal cells, or indirect modulation of the immune system.(2)

Support Digestion
Normal microflora of the large intestine help support and complete digestion via fermentation.(1)(11) The risk of diarrhea, for example, increases when the capacity of colonic microflora to ferment carbohydrates decreases.⁸ Oral ingestion of probiotics produces a stabilizing effect on the gut flora.*(2)

Additional Benefits
The benefits of probiotics extend beyond digestion support and immune support. Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium longum also help support the better utilization and bioavailability of nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, proteins, fats, and carbohydrates.*(14)

Candida albicans is a fungus that is a naturally occurring component of the normal gastrointestinal microflora.(15) However, C. albicans should be maintained at healthy levels. Probiotics have been shown to help retain healthy levels of C. albicans that are already within normal limits.*

True Delivery Technology
Recently, our Integrative Therapeutics,Inc. laboratory tested four leading probiotic nutritional supplements in the marketplace. These supplements were best selling brands, two of the supplements were enteric coated, and all had label guarantees about potency (guaranteed number of live bacteria). The laboratory scientists counted the levels of living bacteria found and compared these findings to the bacterial levels claimed by each manufacturer. The products were also subjected to a simulation of stomach acid conditions, after which the levels of living bacteria were re-counted.

The laboratory results found the probiotic supplements contained less than 50% of the number of living bacteria that they claimed on their labels. Furthermore, the laboratory results found that only 10% of the living bacteria claimed on the manufacturer's label survived the simulated stomach conditions.

Probiotic Pearls uses a revolutionary proprietary “pearl” encapsulating process called True Delivery Technology. The True Delivery Technology is a special type of natural coating that protects the probiotic bacteria.

The True Delivery is a seamless “pearl”, which consists of three layers. The inner layer is a paste of probiotic bacteria suspended in a protective oil suspension. The second layer actually “seals” the bacteria in the capsule, which protects them from air, moisture, and the effects of heat. Probiotic bacteria are anaerobic organisms (grow in the absence of oxygen) and the presence of oxygen can actually injure or kill them.

Because probiotic bacteria are injured or destroyed by the acids of the stomach, the third, outermost layer of the pearl is specially developed to only dissolve in the alkaline environment of the intestines. This patented gelatin pearl protects the probiotic bacteria from the acid environment of the stomach, so that they can successfully reach the intestine.

The patented seamless pearl capsule of Probiotic Pearls assures that virtually all the bacteria remain uninjured and healthy to colonize in the intestine.† In addition, the special pearl capsule''s ability to seal the bacteria inside it eliminates the need for the nutritional supplement to be refrigerated – though they can be kept in the refrigerator, if desired.

Product Number 136002
90 capsules in a blister card

1. Macfarlane GT, Cummings JH. Probiotics and prebiotics: can regulating the activities of intestinal bacteria benefit health? BMJ. 1999;318:999-1003.
2. Gismondo MR, Drago L, Lombardi A. Review of probiotics available to modify gastrointestinal flora. Int J Antimicrob Agents. 1999;12:287-292.
3. Famularo C, Moretti S, Marcellini, De Simone C. Stimulation of immunity by probiotics. In: Fuller, R ed. Probiotics 2 Applications and Practical Aspects. London, England: Chapman & Hall; 1997:133-161.
4. Fuller R. Introduction. In: Fuller, R ed. Probiotics 2 Applications and Practical Aspects. London, England: Chapman & Hall; 1997:1-9.
5. Lactose. On-line medical dictionary. Available at: http://www.graylab.ac.uk/cgi-bin/omd?query=lactose&action+Search+OMD. Accessed February 9, 2000.
6. Marteau P, Vesa T, Rambaud JC. Lactose maldigestion. In: Fuller, R ed. Probiotics 2 Applications and Practical Aspects. London, England: Chapman & Hall; 1997:65-88.
7. Garman J, Coolbear T, Smart J. The effect of cations on the hydrolysis of lactose and the transferase reactions catalysed by beta-galactosidase from six strains of lactic acid bacteria. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 1996;46:22-27.
8. De Simone C, Ciardi A, Grassi A, et al. Effect of Bifidobacterium bifidum and Lactobacillus acidophilus on gut mucosa and peripheral blood B lymphocytes. Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol. 1992;14:331-340.
9. Schriffrin EJ, Brassart D, Servin AL, Rochat F, Donnet-Hughes A. Immune modulation of blood leukocytes in humans by lactic acid bacteria: criteria for strain selection. Am J Clin Nutr. 1997;66(suppl):515S-520S.
10. Bennett A, Eley KG. Intestinal pH and propulsion: an explanation of diarrhoea in lactase deficiency and laxation by lactulose. J Pharm Pharmacol. 1976;28:192-195.
11. Gibson GR, Saavedra JM, Macfarlane S, Macfarlane GT. Probiotics and intestinal infections. In: Fuller, R ed. Probiotics 2 Applications and Practical Aspects. London, England: Chapman & Hall; 1997:10-39.
12. Wagner RD, Peirson C, Warner T, et al. Biotherapeutic effects of probiotic bacteria on candidiasis in immunodeficient mice. Infect Immun. 1997;65:4165-4172.
13. Hilton E, Isenberg HD, Alperstein P, France K, Borenstein MT. Ingestion of yogurt containing Lactobacillus acidophilus as prophylaxis for candidal vaginitis. Ann Intern Med. 1992;116:353-357.
14. Witsell DL, Garrett CG, Yarbrough WG, et al. Effect of Lactobacillus acidophilus on antibiotic-associated gastrointestinal morbidity: a prospective randomized trial. J Otolaryngol. 1995;24:230-233.
15. Candida albicans. On-line Medical Dictionary. Available at: http://www.graylab.ac.uk/cgi-bin/omd?query+candida albicans. Accessed February 10, 2000.