The perfect balance of L-lactate and D-lactate
Some people think that probiotics that contain any D-lactate producing strains can cause acidosis. This is not the only explanation. Together, the eight strains in Smidge® Sensitive Probiotic, along with a proper diet, may be an effective way to correct gut dysbiosis and reverse acidosis. Also, calming activities like yoga or meditation can be great for a well rounded holistic approach to digestive health.
Q. When does D-lactic acidosis occur?
A. D-lactic acidosis occurs when the body is unable to properly metabolize excess D(-)-lactate.
Q. What are the symptoms of D-lactic acidosis?
A. Impaired mental status is a universal feature in D-lactic acidosis. Some of the common neurological symptoms include:
- Impaired motor coordination
- Weakness
- Slurred speech
- Aggressive or hostile behavior, agitation
- Stupor, ataxia and gait disturbance
- Nystagmus (involuntary eye movement)
- Inability to concentrate
- Carbohydrate craving
- Unhappiness and irritability
- Headache, bruxism and opisthotonus
- Hyperventilation and tachypnoea
- Nausea or pallor
Q. What else can contribute to D-lactic acidosis?
- Carbohydrate malabsorption
- Ingestion of large amounts of carbohydrates
- Reduced gut motility
- Impaired D(-)-lactate metabolism
Q. Can diet help with D-lactic acidosis?
A. The biggest factor in successfully treating D-lactic acidosis is following the proper diet, such as the GAPS Diet (which was derived from the Specific Carbohydrate Diet - SCD). Simple sugars such as glucose, fructose, and lactose have been shown to promote excessive D(-)-lactate generation by intestinal bacteria and in some cases to precipitate acidotic symptoms.
Q. I noticed that Smidge® Sensitive Probiotic contains L. plantarum that is not D-lactate free. Why?
A. Smidge® Sensitive Probiotic contains L. plantarum for a very good reason. It has actually been proven to reverse acidosis. L. plantarum initially produces L(+)-lactate, and then switches to producing D(-)-lactate, allowing for equilibrium to be reached. The production of D(-)-lactate in L. plantarum is linked to the biosynthesis of the cell wall.
Q. What about L. salavarius? Is this strain D-lactate free?
A. L. salavarius primarily produces L-lactate and this is why it commonly referred to as “d-lactate free”. But, in reality, it does produce a small amount of D-lactate. No studies have shown that this strain has ever caused acidosis. The case is similar with L. gasseri, which predominantly makes L(+)-lactate during the growth phase and switches to D(-)-lactate when the growth cycle plateaus.
Q. Can probiotics that contain D-lactate producing strains cause acidosis.
A. Not necessarily. Just because a strain produces D-lactate does not mean that it will contribute to acidosis. Smidge® Sensitive Probiotic is formulated with L. plantarum which produces both D-lactate and L-lactate. L. plantarum has actually been proven to reverse acidosis.
Q. What common strain causes D-lactate issues?
A. Several studies have shown that L. acidophilus has caused acidosis in individuals with compromised digestive systems. That is why Smidge® Sensitive Probiotic was specifically designed without this popular strain of probiotic.