The Interview: NutriBiotica

We spoke with Olalla Otero from NutriBiótica, distributors of Bromatech supplements, sold in our Saluda Mediterránea herbalist shops, to learn about the microbiota and fourth generation probiotics.

1- In simple terms that everyone can understand, what is the microbiota?

The microbiota is the collection of microorganisms that live in our bodies and help us maintain our health. We're talking about trillions of microbes, bacteria, fungi, archaea, protozoa, and viruses, which perform essential functions for our bodies.

2- On your website you write that the microbiota is everything and that it is a key component of systemic health. Why is it so important?

We are particularly familiar with the function of the bacterial fraction of our gut microbiota. These bacteria perform very important functions: they help us digest certain foods like fermentable fiber, train our immune system, protect us from other pathogenic microorganisms, and produce valuable substances such as vitamins, neurotransmitters, and butyrate. In other words, if we have a balanced gut microbiota, or a state of eubiosis, this community of microorganisms will fulfill all its functions and contribute to our health.

3- Should everyone take supplements to improve their gut microbiota?

Unfortunately, we live in a world that makes us sick, both us and our gut microbiota. Lack of contact with green spaces, pollution, an inadequate diet based on ultra-processed foods, disruption of circadian rhythms, stress, etc., all have a negative impact on our microbiota. That's why many people today need to modulate their microbial composition with supplements. 

4- Nowadays almost everyone knows what a probiotic is, but there are differences between those taken in the 80s and those available on the market today, the so-called fourth-generation probiotics. What is the most important difference between a "basic" probiotic and a fourth-generation one?

A major challenge in formulating probiotic supplements is ensuring that the microorganisms reach their target area, such as the colon, in a viable (active) state. Fourth-generation technology protects probiotic microorganisms with a double layer, achieving high strain viability and overcoming the limitations of previous generations.

5- When we talk about microbiota, we usually think first of the digestive system, but we now know that microbiota is present throughout the body. What bodily function benefits—perhaps unexpectedly—from a healthy microbiota?

There is a so-called gut-brain axis, and although the gut and brain are geographically distant organs, they are interconnected, with the gut microbiota playing a key role in this communication. In fact, psychobiotics, which are probiotics that specifically modulate the gut-brain axis, are gaining interest in the treatment of various neuropsychiatric disorders. 

6- What can we expect from probiotics in the future?

I believe that probiotics of the future will be even more specific and could be the ideal complement to "precision medicine." Not everyone needs the same strains; we have to abandon the idea of ​​a single probiotic for all ailments and for everyone. 

7- Do you think that at some point probiotic strains will be as well known as different vitamins, so that we know that for urinary tract infections, for example, different ones are taken than for skin conditions?

Every day, more uses for different strains are being discovered, and healthcare professionals are beginning to take an interest in this field. I am confident that at some point, microbiotherapy—that is, the therapeutic use of probiotics—will become a reality for all professionals. 

8- How receptive is conventional medicine to the use of specific probiotic strains to treat different problems other than those of the digestive system?

Healthcare professionals are gradually updating their knowledge and beginning to understand the role of the gut microbiota in various extraintestinal disorders. However, the widespread use of probiotics in this context is not yet a reality for the entire medical community. 

9- Besides taking a supplement to improve the microbiota, are there other things we can do in our lifestyle to support our microbiota?

As I mentioned, practically everything we do has an impact on our gut microbiota. Diet is a major modulator of its composition; if we follow a prebiotic and anti-inflammatory diet, we'll take better care of our microbes. Moderate exercise, especially outdoors, as well as rest and social interaction, also have a positive influence on our gut microbiota. 

10- Are there guidelines for taking microbiota supplements? On an empty stomach, with food, before bed…?

There is no single guideline; treatment must be individualized for each person and their specific dysbiosis (microbiota imbalance). Regarding when to take them, fourth-generation probiotics are usually taken after meals. 

11- What are your favorite products?

Bromatech's human and fourth-generation probiotics, distributed by Nutribiótica in Spain, are highly specific formulations that are very useful for various disorders. One of my favorite strains, because it has been the subject of numerous studies, is B. longum BB536 (found in the Serobiome). BB536 has demonstrated a significant immunomodulatory effect, is beneficial for allergies, improves intestinal barrier function, is useful against certain pathogens, and helps improve the intestinal microenvironment. To care for the gut microbiota, in addition to providing certain probiotic strains, we must not forget other micronutrients such as vitamin D3 and omega-3 fatty acids.

Olalla Otero holds a PhD in Biology from the University of Vigo and a Master's degree in Food Safety. She has conducted basic research on biomarkers and has been part of the Nutribiótica scientific team for the past six years, where she receives daily training on probiotics and microbiota.