Streptococcus B is a specific infection which can adversely affect pregnant mothers and their babies. Here, we take a look at Streb B, and then we discuss four supplements which mothers could take to prevent and/or combat this kind of infection in newborns.
A Look at Streptococcus B
International Group B Strep Awareness Month takes place in July. Streptococcus B, distinctly different from streptococcus A, is a bacterial infection which can occur in adults, but is most known for the severe sickness it can cause in newborn babies. Scientifically known as Streptococcus agalactiae, the strep B bacterium is one which can exist in the gastrointestinal tract, and also in the vagina, in women. Many adults with this bacterium experience no illness or symptoms. In the minority of adults carrying the S. agalactiae bacterium, illness occurs. This could be a urinary tract infection or other type of infection. Adults most susceptible to strep B illness are those with diseases such as diabetes, HIV, or liver disease. Antibiotic treatment is common. The rest of this article addresses the prevention of strep B infection and illness in babies.
Strep B infections which affect pregnant women and their babies are another matter. When the bacterium is present in a woman’s vagina, it can pass to their baby during labor. When this occurs, illness could set in within hours. Symptoms can be severe and life-threatening. They can include fever or low body temperature, feeding difficulties, trouble breathing, seizures, rash, and jaundice. Antibiotics are often prescribed to a mother to prevent this infection.
Up to 30% of women could carry strep B. About half of babies born to women with strep B who receive no antibiotic will come into contact with the bacterium; of those, about 1 or 2 out of 100 will develop a serious infection. Globally, strep B causes about 500,000 premature births and 150,000 infant deaths each year. For these reasons, measures to prevent and manage strep B are crucially important.
Supplements to Help Manage Strep B
Strep B is one of the primary potential ailments which can adversely affect newborn babies as well as their mothers. For this reason, doctors will likely mention strep B when helping expecting mothers prepare for giving birth. These supplements have been found to play a potential role in the prevention of strep B in babies.
Zinc: A detailed study from 2022 has shown that zinc has antimicrobial properties, which can help reduce strep B bacterium. Detailed research examines its effectiveness in doing so against a number of strep B strains in women who have contracted strep B before or after childbirth, and those in babies who have contracted step B. Zinc was found to reduce strep B bacterium in both categories of strep B strains. This makes zinc an excellent supplement to help reduce the likelihood of infection and strep B bacterium flourishing in pregnant women as well as in their babies.
Probiotics: Research suggests that taking a probiotic supplement containing Lactobacillus bacteria could reduce the growth of strep B bacterium in pregnant women. In 2022, research was published which concluded that increasing probiotic bacteria in the body can improve the bacterial microbiome in pregnant women. Specifically, taking in probiotics could lower the acidity of the birth canal, work against the spread of strep B bacterium, and enhance the body’s immune response.
Vitamin D: Scientific studies have established a clear relationship between vitamin D deficiency and the carriage of strep B bacterium in the birth canal. This fact alone makes vitamin D intake crucial for preventing strep B. Research on the effectiveness of the mother taking a vitamin D supplement to prevent strep B infection is ongoing, and it continues to show progress. Its usage to prevent a wide range of other adverse health outcomes makes vitamin D supplementation a very reasonable choice for mothers who want to prevent step B infection.
Garlic has been used to treat strep B infection in traditional medicine, and studied in modern research as well. Multiple natural substances contained in garlic have been found to inhibit the growth of strep B bacterium. This includes allicin and other substances. Because of this, a garlic supplement containing these substances could potentially help pregnant women avoid a strep B infection.
If you or someone you know is a pregnant woman, then it pays to be aware that strep B is one health condition to prepare to avoid, and these supplements mentioned above could all help. It is highly recommended that you talk to your healthcare provider first, before taking any one of these supplements to make sure they are suitable for you and not in conflict with any prescription medicine you might be on.