What is QBIOTIC?

Intestinal flora as the key to health? Many people have probably heard of the microbiome. The billions of bacteria, fungi and viruses that live in our intestines, among other places, and without whose help we would not be able to absorb some nutrients in the first place. These tiny organisms keep harmful invaders away from us and support our immune system with a range of molecules, such as butyrate.

At best, we live in symbiosis with the intestinal bacteria - a state in which both sides benefit from each other. Research is increasingly showing that the intestinal flora is involved in the development of some diseases outside the intestine. Our metabolism is largely determined by the colonization in our intestines. Even if much about this is not yet fully understood, the number of studies is growing almost daily. In this article, we will show you what QBIOTIC is all about and what effects you can expect from it.

The microbiome - cause of diseases?

The world of the microbiome is extremely diverse and complex - just like the research on the subject. For this reason, in our article on the microbiome we have already given you a detailed overview.

So how can the microbiome contribute to the development of diseases? To better answer this question, let's take a closer look at one area of research. The role of the microbiome in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus - diabetes. This disease is characterized by a disturbed glucose metabolism, usually beginning with insulin resistance, which later manifests itself as diabetes.

The role of the intestinal flora has already been relatively well studied and this overview summarizes 42 studies on humans.

As the microbiome varies greatly from person to person, it is difficult to make generally valid statements. However, the researchers were able to determine that there were differences in the composition of the intestinal flora. In particular, the genera Bifidobacterium, Bacteroides, Faecalibacterium, Akkermansia and Roseburia were often negatively associated with diabetes, which means that they occur in lower quantities in patients with diabetes. In contrast, Ruminococcus, Fusobacterium and Blautia were found more frequently in diabetic patients.

Differences in the intestinal flora - is that enough?

The difference in the composition of the intestinal bacteria alone is unlikely to make up the whole picture. The microbiome is too diverse for that. Our diet or where we live alone has a major influence on the composition of the microbiome. Many intestinal bacteria produce molecules that not only affect our intestinal wall, but also have effects throughout the entire body.

Some microbes can reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines and stimulate the production of anti-inflammatory messengers. Others can strengthen the integrity of the intestinal mucosa by increasing the expression of tight junction proteins (thereby tightening the cellular junction) and thus reducing permeability.

According to the study authors, the microbiome has a direct influence on glucose metabolism. For example, Bifidobacterium lactis can promote glycogen synthesis in the liver and improve glucose uptake into the cells by activating the GLUT-4 transporter.

How can you influence the intestinal flora?

This is possible via pre-, pro- and postbiotics. We will briefly explain the individual terms below:

• Prebiotics: These are non-digestible plant residues, or in other words fiber. We absorb these naturally with our food (e.g. through fruit and vegetables). These serve as food for our intestinal flora. The bacteria in our intestines are dependent on a certain amount per day.
• ProbioticsThese are living microorganisms, e.g. bacteria, which are often sold as food supplements. By taking prebiotics, the balance of the intestinal flora should be shifted more in the direction of health-promoting bacteria.
• Synbiotics: Combines a prebiotic (the food of the bacteria) with a probiotic (the bacterial species itself).
• Postbiotics: are bioactive compounds produced by probiotics during the fermentation process in the intestine. These include metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids (butyrate), peptides or vitamins.

So what is QBIOTIC?

QBIOTIC is a newly formulated supplement with several different ingredients. The identical formulation has already been used successfully in metabolic studies. The mineral substance zinc contributes to the normal metabolism of carbohydrates and fatty acids, while chromium supports the maintenance of normal blood sugar levels.

QBIOTIC also contains Bacillus subtilis, a bacterium that won the "Microbe of the Year 2023" award, and L-alanyl-L-glutamine, an amino acid derivative that has effects on the muscles, among other things. But more on that in a moment.

Bacillus subtilis - a microbe with many benefits

Bacillus subtilis is a gram-positive bacterium found in soil that is able to form endospores. Endospores are a form of bacterial survival that helps the organisms to survive even difficult environmental conditions. Research has shown various aspects on which Bacillus subtilis could have an influence:

Modulation of the intestinal flora

Bacillus subtilis appears to have a positive influence on the microbial balance in the gut. As a probiotic bacterium, it contributes to the diversity of the intestinal flora, which is essential for maintaining good health. B. subtilis can enter the gut and create favorable conditions by promoting beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria. These bacteria play a key role in the digestion and absorption of nutrients and in strengthening the immune system. Both bacteria are also inversely associated with the risk of insulin resistance and can increase butyrate production.

Antimicrobial activity

In addition to supporting healthy strains of bacteria, Bacillus subtilis can produce antimicrobial peptides known as subtilisins. These peptides have the ability to directly combat pathogenic microorganisms by inhibiting their growth or killing them. This mechanism helps to prevent the overgrowth of harmful bacteria and probably supports the maintenance of a healthy intestinal flora. In this study, Bacillus subtilis was able to attenuate the growth of the harmful bacterium Clostridium perfrigens in chickens.

Stimulation of the immune system

Bacillus subtilis also appears to interact with the immune system. The studies indicate a connection with the M cells in the Peyer's plaques of the small intestine, which presumably leads to a stimulation of the local and systemic immune response.

Influence on the intestinal barrier

Bacillus subtilis is also associated with a strengthened intestinal barrier. It promotes the production of tight junction proteins, which connect the intestinal epithelial cells and thus improve the barrier function of the intestine.

Effects on digestion

In addition, Bacillus subtilis aids digestion by producing enzymes that help break down complex carbohydrates and proteins. These enzymes facilitate nutrient absorption and in this study, for example, were able to reduce flatulence, constipation and other digestive complaints.

Butyrate - an important building block for intestinal health

Before we go into more detail about the composition of QBIOTIC, we need to briefly clarify what butyrate is and what role it plays in the body:

Butyrate is one of the short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) produced by microorganisms in the gut through the fermentation of indigestible carbohydrates (prebiotics). This short-chain fatty acid has attracted a lot of scientific attention because butyrate metabolism can also influence our metabolism. One of the molecular pathways associated with butyrate is the stimulation of the incretin hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1).

Put simply, GLP-1 works in two different ways in the body. It signals to our brain that we are full and it promotes the release of insulin so that we can better transport the sugar we consume with our food into our cells.

Drugs that "mimic" GLP-1 have also become famous outside medicine in recent years. The active ingredient semaglutide, marketed under the trade name Ozempic®, is a very effective diabetes medication. You can find out more about these connections in our article on berberine.

But back to butyrate. One of the reasons why a high-fiber diet is so healthy is probably the increased production of butyrate by the intestinal bacteria. However, each person has a different composition of intestinal flora and therefore a different capacity to produce butyrate.

Did you know? The exact formation of butyrate in the intestine is quite complex and involves several steps and metabolic pathways. Three of the four metabolic pathways use amino acids and pyruvate as an intermediate product, which is also found in energy metabolism and the mitochondria.

The butyrate produced in the intestine can then increase the production of GLP-1 via several pathways. One of these pathways is activation of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs).

Dietary fiber to increase butyrate production?

As we have seen, it seems to be beneficial if our intestinal flora produces more butyrate. We can achieve this, for example, by eatingmore fiber, especially FODMAPs. FODMAPs stands for "fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols". They are a group of short-chain carbohydrates and sugar alcohols that occur naturally in many foods or are used as additives. FODMAPs are known to cause digestive discomfort such as bloating, abdominal pain, flatulence and diarrhea or constipation in some people, especially those with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or other functional gastrointestinal disorders.

These side effects can have a limiting effect and this is where QBIOTIC comes into play:

Bacillus subtilis and L-alanyl-L-glutamine for the biometabolic shift

The composition of the QBIOTIC ingredients is designed to cover as many metabolic pathways of butyrate production as possible without eating large amounts of FODMAPs.

The combination of Bacillus subtilis and L-alanyl-L-glutamine, a synthetic dipeptide, changes the intestinal flora. Bacillus subtilis supports intestinal bacteria that produce butyrate and L-alanyl-L-glutamine provides glutamate as a starting substance, which can be further metabolized to butyrate. In addition, biotin, turmeric, green tea extract, vitamin D and vitamins B5, B6 provide the improved framework conditions to achieve a biometabolic shift in the intestinal flora.

Exactly this combination was tested in a study on 192 people. The result:

• Improved blood glucose levels (fasting blood glucose, HbA1c)
• Significant weight reduction in the study group
• Particularly effective for participants with insulin resistance

More than just improved blood glucose levels

The combination of Bacillus subtilis and L-alanyl-L-glutamine was also tested with regard to blood lipid levels in a smaller study. After taking the preparation for 2 or 4 weeks, the researchers were able to determine a reduction in the cholesterol and LDL levels in the blood.

Did you know? Bacillus subtilis is not a complete anaerobe, which means that it survives even with slight contact with oxygen. This is an advantage over strictly anaerobic bacterial strains, such as Akkermansia, which die at the slightest contact with oxygen

Possible side effects

Although Bacillus subtilis is generally considered to be very safe, some people may experience side effects. These usually include mild gastrointestinal symptoms such as bloating, discomfort or diarrhea. These symptoms are usually temporary as the body adapts to the changes in the intestinal flora.

Bacillus subtillis and nattokinase

Beware of confusion: Nattokinase is an enzyme produced by another type of bacteria, Bacillus subtilis natto, which is specifically involved in the fermentation of natto, a Japanese soybean product. This enzyme is discussed for its ability to dissolve blood clots and is therefore often studied in the context of cardiovascular disease. Although Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus subtilis natto are closely related, the focus of B. subtilis is on microbiome applications, while nattokinase is mainly known for its effects on the cardiovascular system.