Doctor Reviews: ZBiotics

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Zbiotics, the buzzword in the probiotic beverage world, claims to tackle those nasty after-effects of a night out. You know what I’m talking about – the dreaded hangover. But does it really work? Let’s dive in.

What is Bacillus subtilis ZB183?

At the heart of Zbiotics lies Bacillus subtilis ZB183, a special bacterial strain that’s been tweaked to produce something called acetaldehyde dehydrogenase. This enzyme is crucial because it helps break down acetaldehyde, a pesky byproduct of alcohol metabolism. Think of it as your body’s cleanup crew after a night of partying.

Now, Bacillus subtilis isn’t your average bacterium. It’s been genetically modified to make it super-efficient at what it does. But here’s the catch – while this all sounds impressive, we need to tread carefully. Cutting-edge ingredients like this often lack solid evidence to back up their claims. Sure, they might work wonders in lab experiments with cells and animals, but what about us humans?

That’s where the skepticism kicks in. Without robust studies on real people, it’s hard to say for sure whether Zbiotics is the real deal or just another fancy concoction with a lot of hype and little substance. So, while the science behind it is intriguing, let’s hold off on the celebrations until we see some concrete proof of its effectiveness.

Benefits and safety?

The burning question on everyone’s mind: Does taking Bacillus subtilis ZB183 supplements really bring any health perks for us humans? As of now, the answer’s a bit murky. Neither Bacillus subtilis ZB183 nor any similar genetically modified probiotics have undergone human clinical trials to determine their safety or effectiveness. So far, these supplements have only been put to the test in mouse studies.

In one such study, Bacillus subtilis was genetically modified to produce both aldehyde dehydrogenase and alcohol dehydrogenase enzymes. It’s essential to note that this isn’t the same strain used in Zbiotics. However, it’s a more enhanced version capable of breaking down both acetaldehyde and alcohol. Mouse experiments suggested that this modified strain might help alleviate alcohol-induced liver damage, hinting at its potential in detoxifying alcohol and easing alcohol-related liver problems.

Another study administered Bacillus subtilis to mice and observed positive outcomes like rebalancing gut bacteria, reducing damage to the intestinal barrier, and lowering harmful substance levels in the bloodstream. This ultimately improved liver health by curbing inflammation. However, it’s crucial to understand that this study didn’t involve a genetically modified version of Bacillus subtilis; instead, it utilized a specific strain known as CMCC 1.3358. Additionally, its benefits primarily focused on mitigating alcohol-induced damage rather than metabolizing alcohol itself.

Safety evaluations have been carried out, but only in rats. One study provided the actual Zbiotics strain to Wistar rats and found no adverse effects on various parameters, including signs of illness or mortality rates. Although there was a slight uptick in plasma albumin levels at higher doses, it wasn’t deemed harmful.

A solitary human study examined a supplement containing Bacillus subtilis, dubbed AB001. In this study, twenty-four participants took the supplement for a week before consuming alcohol, resulting in lower blood alcohol levels compared to a placebo. However, there are notable caveats when trying to extrapolate this study’s findings to support Zbiotics’ use. Firstly, the Bacillus subtilis strain used wasn’t genetically modified. Secondly, the supplement contained additional probiotics and L-Cysteine, complicating the assessment of Bacillus subtilis’s individual impact. Thirdly, participants took the supplement for a week prior to drinking, indicating it wasn’t an immediate solution. Lastly, despite reducing blood alcohol levels, it didn’t enhance cognitive function, meaning it didn’t effectively address hangover symptoms.

In summary, there’s insufficient evidence to validate the efficacy or safety of Zbiotics for managing hangovers in humans. While there’s one safety study on the specific Zbiotics strain, it’s confined to rodents. Among the three efficacy studies on other Bacillus subtilis strains, two involved rodents, and the lone human study doesn’t convincingly support Zbiotics’ usage. Although research on mice or other animals can provide valuable insights into probiotics’ potential benefits, it doesn’t directly translate to human health outcomes due to our complex physiological differences.

To truly ascertain how Zbiotics impacts human health, we require clinical trials involving human participants. These trials would provide a clearer understanding of how these supplements interact with the human body. Until such trials materialize, the notion that Zbiotics can alleviate “rough mornings after drinking” or break down acetaldehyde in humans remains speculative.

Acetaldehyde and hangovers

Even if Zbiotics were proven to effectively break down acetaldehyde in your gut, it wouldn’t necessarily mean it could ease hangovers. Acetaldehyde levels in your bloodstream are just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to those dreaded morning-after woes following a night of drinking.

Relying solely on acetaldehyde breakdown isn’t likely to be a silver bullet for managing hangovers. Research indicates that the severity of a hangover isn’t necessarily tied to acetaldehyde levels in your system. Instead, it’s the amount of alcohol still lingering in your body that seems to influence how rough you feel. Additionally, acetaldehyde levels don’t seem to correlate with inflammation and oxidative stress, which are major contributors to hangover symptoms. On the other hand, alcohol levels in your body have a significant impact on these factors.

In essence, while acetaldehyde is indeed a toxic byproduct of alcohol metabolism, pinning all hangover blame on it is oversimplifying things. It’s actually the alcohol itself that directly harms your body and triggers those nasty hangover symptoms. When you consume alcohol, your liver immediately gets to work converting it into a less harmful substance – acetaldehyde. Though acetaldehyde isn’t harmless, it’s far less damaging than alcohol. Therefore, if the goal is to alleviate hangover symptoms, it’s more logical to focus on breaking down alcohol rather than acetaldehyde. While targeting acetaldehyde might seem like addressing the issue at hand, it doesn’t tackle the root cause – the alcohol itself.

Other possible treatments?

You might wonder, are there any scientifically-backed supplements for hangovers? Well, yes, but the evidence isn’t overwhelmingly strong, though it’s still more substantial than what we’ve got for Zbiotics or similar genetically modified probiotics. I won’t delve into a detailed review of all these supplements here, as that’s not our focus. However, some options worth noting include clove extract, tolfenamic acid, pyritinol, Hovenia dulcis fruit extract, L-cysteine, red ginseng, and Korean pear juice.

Interestingly, while Zbiotics, featuring its genetically engineered Bacillus subtilis bacteria, lacks human evidence for hangover management, there’s a product called BIOZYME that shows some promise. It’s crafted by fermenting vegetables with Bacillus subtilis bacteria. In a study, giving participants 100 ml of BIOZYME before drinking led to reduced alcohol and aldehyde levels in the body, with the aldehyde-lowering effect lasting at least 4 hours.

So, why isn’t BIOZYME, which has demonstrated aldehyde reduction in humans in at least one modest study, as popular as Zbiotics, which lacks such evidence? Well, it’s likely a matter of marketing and hype rather than actual effectiveness. Plus, BIOZYME is currently only available in Japan.

Does ZBiotics work?

From what I’ve seen, the probiotics in Zbiotics probably won’t do much, if anything, to alleviate hangover symptoms. Any relief you might feel after consuming it likely comes from the slight rehydration provided by its potassium and sodium content, which you could achieve more efficiently by drinking something with electrolytes. There’s simply no human evidence supporting the claim that it can lower aldehyde levels in the body. And even if it could, reducing aldehyde levels might not necessarily improve hangover severity.

The concept of genetically modifying probiotics for commercial use is relatively new. Indeed, Zbiotics is among the pioneers globally in producing and selling genetically engineered probiotic products. However, just because it’s innovative doesn’t guarantee it’ll be more effective, or effective at all.

Top alternatives to ZBiotics

• Probiotic (Align) – 1 cap / day
• Probiotic (Culturelle) – 1 cap / day
• Probiotic (generic) – 1 cap / day

Learn more about

• Which Probiotics are BEST for Weight Loss?
• Supplement reviews

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