Probiotics 'could prevent intestinal damage by radiation'
Thursday 17th November 2011
Taking a probiotic before radiation therapy could protect the intestine from damage, scientists have said.
Radiation therapy is often used to treat prostate, cervical, bladder, endometrial and other abdominal cancers, but in doing so can damage the lining of the intestine.
In such cases, radiation therapy must be ceased, or the radiation dose reduced, until the intestine has healed.
The study on mice, which was published in journal Gut, revealed that taking probiotic bacteria Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) before radiation exposure could protect the lining of the intestine from damage.
However, it was unable to repair damage if ingested after the radiation exposure.
Damage to the lining of the intestine from radiation exposure can result in severe bouts of diarrhoea.
First author Matthew A Ciorba noted: "Our study suggests we should give the probiotic prior to the onset of symptoms, or even before the initiation of radiation because, at least in this scenario, the key function of the probiotic seems to
be preventing damage, rather than facilitating repair."
Written by Megan Smith
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