Dietary Supplements for Digestion

Symptoms and associated factors

48 per cent of French people say they suffer from digestive problems: bloating, acid reflux, diarrhoea, constipation… These discomforts can be caused by several factors. The most common are stress, an unhealthy diet, medication, alcohol or an imbalance in the gut microbiota known as dysbiosis.

The role of the gut microbiota

The gut microbiota refers to the collection of microorganisms (non-pathogenic bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi) that live in our intestines. This flora colonises the walls of the stomach and intestines, particularly the colon.

This gut microbiota, which is unique to each individual, plays a crucial role in digestion. Indeed, it contributes in particular to the absorption of nutrients, the synthesis of vitamins and essential amino acids, and the regulation of metabolic pathways. Consequently, an imbalance in the microbiota is likely to lead to chronic digestive disorders.

Therefore, to restore balance to our microbiota, a better quality of life and a healthy diet are two essential approaches. 

Certain nutrients are particularly recognised for their beneficial effects on digestive comfort:

Probiotics

Probiotics are beneficial bacteria or yeasts (e.g. lactobacilli and bifidobacteria) which, when taken in adequate quantities, help to maintain the balance of the gut microbiota, strengthen its barrier function and reduce digestive discomfort. Furthermore, opt for microencapsulated probiotic strains, which ensure the strains’ resistance to gastric acidity and thus enable them to survive for a longer period.

Herbs

• Cinnamon and turmeric contribute to digestive comfort
• Peppermint aids digestion and helps combat flatulence and digestive discomfort
• Oregano supports digestive comfort and gut health
• Caraway helps to reduce digestive discomfort such as bloating
• Ginger supports healthy bowel function, aids digestion and stimulates gastric activity
• Milk thistle supports liver health, helping to protect the liver and support its detoxification capacity.
  
  

Vitamins

• Vitamins B2 (riboflavin) and B3 (niacin) are the most commonly used in dietary supplement formulations for digestion, as they both help maintain healthy mucous membranes, such as the intestinal lining.
• Vitamin D3 may be added as it plays an indirect role in maintaining the integrity of the intestinal barrier (cell cohesion and renewal), balancing the microbiota and modulating the immune response – three elements essential to the proper functioning of the digestive system.

Amino acids

Among the amino acids most beneficial for digestion is L-glutamine. This active ingredient ensures the integrity of the intestinal wall, thereby strengthening its barrier function.

Other active ingredients are well documented, such as bromelain derived from pineapple, which provides enzymatic activity (which aids in the breakdown of proteins and thus promotes better digestive comfort), and quercetin, a pigment extracted from Japanese sophora buds that helps combat oxidative stress and thus preserves the integrity of the intestinal barrier.

Objectives

The dietary supplements for digestive difficulties developed by our laboratory are designed to achieve several effects:

• Action on the intestinal mucosa, which, when compromised, allows both beneficial and harmful bacteria to pass through to the immune cells.
• Action on the gut microbiota, through the introduction of predominant strains of the microbiota.
• Action on intestinal discomfort, using herbal remedies rigorously selected for their role in supporting digestive, liver and kidney functions.

Try our comprehensive digestive protocol

Digestive issues are generally linked to an intestinal imbalance involving the microbiota, the intestinal barrier and the body’s natural waste elimination mechanisms, which are primarily managed by the liver and then by the gut.

It is therefore always advisable to tackle the problem holistically by following these three key principles: cleanse, strengthen, replenish. To this end, Synergia has developed its digestive protocol:

• Step 1: I detoxify and cleanse the gut with Maxi-Clean, containing essential oils of peppermint, caraway and oregano, as well as ginger, bromelain, milk thistle and vitamin B3.
• Step 2: I strengthen the intestinal lining with Glutaform, which contains L-glutamine, bromelain, cinnamon, turmeric, quercetin, and vitamins B3 and D3.
• Step 3: I restore balance to the gut microbiota with the probiotics in Maxi-Flore COMFORT+ or Maxi-Flore STRONG, which also contain prebiotics and vitamin D3!