While probiotics by themselves do not have a dramatic impact on C-reactive protein (CRP), theres something you can take along with them that will reduce this vascular disease marker.
As you may know, CRP is a marker for inflammation in your body. It does not identify the specific location of inflammation. However, it strongly suggests that there is inflammation in your blood vessels when its elevated. Inflammation in vessels causes arterial disease and can damage your heart.
So what should you take with probiotics to lower your CRP? A new study says you should take the simple nutrient ascorbic acid, also known as vitamin C.
In the study, researchers followed patients with elevated CRP (>1.0mg/L or greater). They divided the participants into two groups. One group took vitamin C. The other group took vitamin E.
The group that took 1,000 mg per day of vitamin C saw their CRP come down by 25.3%. This is similar to what the pundits claim for statin drugs (with plenty of side effects to go with it). The vitamin E group, which took 800 IU per day, did not experience any reduction in CRP.
I reported on CRP years ago, long before the mainstream caught on. Now, years later, the medical mob is pushing expensive petrochemical statins to lower CRP. But vitamin C, for mere pennies, can do the same with no toxicity and many additional benefits. You can take it along with probiotics and see many of your inflammation problems go away.
Ref: Free Radic Biol Med, 2008 October 10.