Looking for a probiotic to improve your digestive regularity and prevent diarrhea and constipation?
The probiotic enterococcus faecium is a bacterial member of the microflora which makes up the healthy gut of humans and animals.
Their colonization of the human and animals GI tract is not only natural, but necessary. Together with other healthy bacteria and fungi, they work to keep unhealthy (pathogenic) bacteria from flourishing and, in cases where a GI tract has become imbalanced or compromised; enterococcus faecium helps to restore the balance.
Enterococcus faecium occupies the human gut in substantial numbers. For example, a single gram of fecal matter contains more than 100 million (1 x 10^8) colonies of enterococcus faecium. This bacteria plays an integral part of the microflora which keeps us healthy.



- Supports a healthy immune system & microflora
- Promotes digestion & nutrient absoprtion
- Combats pathogenic bacteria; Improves metabolism
Enterococcus Faecium Probiotic Supplements
Related Topics
- What are Probiotics?
- Probiotic Benefits
- Best Probiotic Strains
- Probiotic Side Effects
- Probiotic Supplements
- Probiotic Foods
- Best Probiotic Yogurt
- Probiotics for Children
- Probiotics for Women
- Yeast Infections
- What are Prebotics?
- Lactobacillus Acidophilus
- Lactobacillus Bulgaricus
- Lactobacillus Rhamnosus
- Bifidobacterium Bifidum
- Bifidobacterium Infantis
- Bifidus Regularis
All enterococcus faecium are not created equal however, making it important to ascertain the probiotic you are taking contains healthy strains of the bacteria.
Although this non-pathogenic bacteria has been used throughout history by humans and animals, there are strains of enterococcus which are known to be harmful, particularly in immunocompromised individuals.
Strains used in probiotic supplements are carefully researched and tested to assure safety and efficacy in the human or animal gut.
Effects
High colonization of enterococcus faecium along the entire GI tract aids in a process called competitive exclusion.
During this process, undesirable bacteria are unable to gain footing for growth because the walls of the intestinal lumen are advantageously populated by these good bacterial agents. Supplementing with a good probiotic containing enterococcus faecium bacteria after completing a course of antibiotic therapy can help your gut restore itself to a normal and healthy bacterial balance.
For most healthy people, without probiotic supplementation, it can take up to six months for your gut to replenish and restore itself.
In animal studies, enterococcus faecium has been shown to increase antimicrobial action in the GI tract, making it a good candidate to take alone, or in conjunction with other probiotics, to reduce or prevent certain types of diarrhea.
Enterococcus faecium is sometimes used in the manufacturing process of foods we eat regularly, such as feta cheese and cheddar cheese. Some packaged cooked meat products also contain enterococcus faecium to control listeria monocytogene growth.
Without realizing it, we may already be ingesting the helpful strains of enterococcus faecium in our regular diets.
Benefits of Enterococcus Faecium
The benefits of maintaining a healthy balance of the microflora in our guts cannot be overstated. Many societies continue to use probiotics for treatment of ailments and symptoms, rather than antibiotics.
It was only in the mid twentieth century, when antibiotics became fairly cheap that physicians began regularly prescribing them. Now, scientists are concerned that antibiotic resistant bacterial agents may be able to out-mutate our antibiotic regimens.
This makes keeping our guts healthy, with a proper bacterial microbiome containing plentiful colonies of non-pathogenic microflora, even more important.
Besides treating certain diarrheas, including antibiotic related diarrhea, enterococcus faecium has been reported to help with chronic constipation in some individuals. Because enterococcus faecium is an important healthy bacterial member in the gut microflora family, it works symbiotically with other good bacteria to promote better immune function and for good overall digestive tract health.
How to Find Enterococcus Faecium
Many probiotic formulas will include one or more of the helpful strains of enterococcus faecium.
For individuals who are taking antibiotics, or have just completed a course of antibiotics, a good probiotic for restoring the GI tract will usually include enterococcus faecium on the ingredients label.
It is not usually recommended to source and take enterococcus faecium supplements individually, though there are some available at health food stores online.
Because there are both pathogenic and non-pathogenic strains of this bacteria, purchasing a probiotic from a company who carefully sources and blends their probiotics, is important.
Enterococcus Faecium Side Effects
As with all supplements, seek the advice of your personal health care provider before commencing treatment with any supplement.
Individuals who are immunocompromised should not take enterococcus faecium.
Pregnant or nursing mothers, or women who are trying to become pregnant, should not take enterococcus faecium. This supplement should be administered to children only under the guidance of a qualified physician.
Some clinically challenging strains of enterococcus faecium have been identified as contributing to the spread of infection in hospital settings with patients whose immune systems may already have been compromised.
Although there are extremely helpful and healthy strains of this bacteria, it is important to bear in mind that not all strains of this bacteria are considered safe.
Conclusion
This important bacteria resides in the healthy intestinal tracts of both humans and other animals in extremely copious numbers. It can be helpful in restoring bacterial balance in the gut after taking antibiotics, or for the control of or prevention of certain diarrheas.
Not all strains of the Enterococcus Faecium bacteria are helpful; in fact, some are pathogenic and considered unsafe. When purchasing probiotic supplementats containing enterococcus faecium, buy only from a reputable and knowledgeable manufacturer for best results.
Strains which have been carefully researched and selected can contribute to better overall health, increased digestive processes, better immune function, and decreased growth of unhealthy gut bacteria.
Article last updated on: April 27th, 2018 by Nootriment
1 Comment
I have a patient with chronic intestinal and extraintestinal conditions who has been shown to have significantly reduced numbers of E-coli and Streptocoocci/Enterococci microflora.
We do not have these genus of microflora available in Australia.
Do you have them available in your range of products?