By Roshell She Travilla and the H&L Editorial Team

In a recent roundtable discussion held in the cool mountain city of Baguio, distinguished pediatrician and gastroenterology-nutrition expert Dr. Felizardo Gatcheco shed new light on the crucial role of probiotics in maintaining gut health and preventing disease. Speaking before a crowd of doctors, health practitioners, and wellness advocates, Dr. Gatcheco described probiotics as “temporary passers-by that leave lasting benefits”—small, living organisms that train, protect, and restore the body’s intricate internal balance.

The human gut, Dr. Felizardo Gatcheco emphasized, is more than just a digestive organ—it is a complex ecosystem that houses billions of microorganisms collectively known as the gut microbiota. When these good and bad bacteria coexist in harmony, the body thrives. But when balance is lost—often through antibiotics, stress, poor diet, or infection—our health begins to falter.

“Probiotics,” he explained, “are living microorganisms which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer health benefits on the host. They help the body restore what antibiotics and infections may take away.”

Beyond Digestion: The Five Pillars of Probiotic Power

According to Dr. Gatcheco, probiotics contribute to wellness through five major mechanisms:

1. Competitive exclusion of pathogens.
   Probiotics compete with harmful microorganisms for receptor sites along the gut lining, preventing disease-causing pathogens from taking hold. “A good probiotic should just be able to attach,” he said. “When all attachment centers are full, any excess probiotic is simply excreted. That’s why there is virtually no overdose.”
2. Restoration of normal flora.
   After antibiotic use or diarrheal illness, probiotics help invite back the “good guys”—the normal flora that maintain healthy gut function.
3. Strengthening of the gut barrier.
   The intestinal wall is lined with epithelial cells that act as the body’s first line of defense. Probiotics reinforce these cells, reducing the risk of toxins and bacteria leaking into the bloodstream—an important safeguard against sepsis and systemic infection.
4. Immune system modulation.
   “The gut is not just a digestive organ; it’s also an immune organ,” Dr. Gatcheco stressed. Over 70 percent of the body’s immune cells reside in the gastrointestinal tract. Through what he called cross-talking with immune cells, probiotics help “train and educate” the immune system to recognize and resist disease.
5. Metabolic benefits.
   Certain probiotic strains can metabolize fats and carbohydrates, contributing to better weight control, cholesterol regulation, and overall metabolic health. “Some probiotics have even been studied for obesity management,” he noted, though many of these advanced strains are not yet widely available in the Philippines.

The Science of Survival: Why Microencapsulation Matters

Not all probiotics are created equal. Their efficacy depends greatly on their ability to survive harsh conditions—from factory processing to the acidic environment of the stomach.

Dr. Gatcheco devoted a large part of his presentation to the concept of microencapsulation, a protective process that coats probiotic cells with multiple layers to ensure they reach the intestine alive and active.

“Without microencapsulation,” he said, “most probiotics die before they can even do their work.” Studies show that encapsulated Lactobacillus lactis has a survival rate of up to 85 percent, compared with near-total death in unprotected forms.

Trianon’s 5-strain probiotic, he highlighted, uses three-layer microencapsulation—an innovative method that surrounds the probiotic with fibrous, polypeptide, and lipid layers for maximum protection. The product is freeze-dried, the gentlest preservation process that maintains microbial viability while resisting environmental stress, heat, and moisture.

Probiotics and Antibiotics: Partners, Not Rivals

One of Dr. Gatcheco’s strongest messages was the importance of prescribing probiotics alongside antibiotics. “Antibiotics are life-saving,” he reminded the audience, “but they don’t discriminate between good and bad bacteria. They wipe them all out.”

Co-prescribing probiotics, he said, helps maintain the gut’s protective flora and reduces the risk of antibiotic-associated diarrhea. However, not all probiotics can survive antibiotic exposure. “Choose only strains that are genetically resistant to antibiotics or adequately microencapsulated,” he advised.

He also cautioned against probiotic use in severely immunocompromised patients, those in intensive care units, or those with severe pancreatitis or multiple venous lines, as infection risk may outweigh benefit.

Inside the Capsule: Five Strains and a Prebiotic Partner

The Trianon probiotic discussed by Dr. Gatcheco contains five clinically validated strains, each offering complementary benefits:

1. Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis (BLA-18) – supports bowel regularity and relieves constipation.
2. Bifidobacterium longum – promotes healthy gut flora in infants and adults alike.
3. Lactobacillus rhamnosus – aids in managing diarrhea and improving intestinal balance.
4. Bifidobacterium breve (BBR-60) – supports immune modulation and gut comfort.
5. Bifidobacterium animalis (BLA-36) – helps regulate digestion and immunity.

These are paired with a prebiotic, fructooligosaccharide (FOS), which serves as nourishment for the probiotics, helping them multiply and remain stable even in tropical climates. This synergy of probiotics and prebiotic makes the product a synbiotic—a combination that offers dual benefit.

Dr. Gatcheco noted its odorless, tasteless profile and high compliance even among children, making it suitable for ages two and above. The formulation is also allergen-free, animal-free, and shelf-stable at room temperature.

Clinical Uses and Practical Applications

The five-strain probiotic, he said, can be recommended for:

• Non-bloody diarrhea and antibiotic-associated diarrhea
• Constipation and travel-related digestive upsets
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Lactose intolerance and mild inflammatory bowel conditions

Emerging research also points to benefits for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), as probiotics may help reduce behavioral symptoms linked to gut-brain chemical imbalances. “It will not cure autism,” he clarified, “but it can lessen the tantrums and improve mood regulation.”

From Baguio with Insight

The session ended with a small but telling survey among 76 Filipino mothers whose children had used the probiotic. Their average ratings were impressive—8.79 for effectiveness, nearly 10 for satisfaction, and 9.8 for recommendation. Some even reported improvement in their children’s diarrhea within 12 hours—half the expected recovery time reported in global studies.

As he concluded, Dr. Gatcheco smiled and said, “Thank you for bringing me back to Baguio—one of my favorite cities. I don’t know why, but every time I’m here, I feel relaxed.”

His message, however, was anything but casual. It was a call to Filipino doctors to harness the unseen power of beneficial microbes—not only to heal the gut, but to protect life itself.

“They are just temporary passers-by in the gut—but their benefits can last a lifetime.”
— Dr. Felizardo Gatcheco