A Pilot Study of the Influence of Probiotics on Hair Toxic Element Levels After Long-Term Supplement with Different Lactic Acid Bacteria Strains

Abstract

There are toxic elements in different environments. As these toxic elements accumulate, they might compromise one’s health. In past literatures, people are actively looking for appropriate functional food (probiotics) which is used in decreasing the concentration of toxic elements in environments, animals or human bodies. This retrospective study focuses on whether taking more specific probiotic strain for at least six months can help significantly decreasing the concentration of toxic elements in one’s hair. There are in total 319 participants for five probiotic strains (Lactobacillus paracasei BRAP-01, Bifidobacterium longum BR022, Lactobacillus acidophilus AD300, Lactobacillus reuteri BR101, Lactobacillus rhamnosus AD500). A concentration of six toxic elements (Cadmium (Cd), Mercury (Hg), Lead (Pb), Beryllium (Be), Arsenic (As), and Aluminum (Al)) have been detected in all the participants before and after taking probiotics. The factors of this study include gender, age, and disease (cancer, diabetes, and hypertension). The statistical methods for the study are exact McNemar’s test, (exact) Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and regression tree. The summary of the conclusions for this study are: 1. For those previously detecting an abnormal concentration of Hg and Be, a significant decrease in the number of patients has been observed after taking probiotics. 2. Taking probiotic for at least six months can significantly decreases the concentration of Hg and Be. 3. Since no literature indicates that taking probiotics can obviously decrease the concentration of Be in one’s hair, thus this research might be the first to claim this fact. The result of the study will benefit relevant researches in the future.