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.