Nor is it entirely clear who should use them.
That means some supplement products may not contain what the label says.
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How Are Probiotics Good for You?
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Probiotics are sold in many formulations and products.
How they may benefit health is an active area of study, but there arent many conclusions available yet.
The challenge is in knowing which probiotic is helpful and for which health problem.
There is little in the way of guidance available onwho should take probioticsand when.
Preventing Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea
Some people may have diarrhea after taking antibiotics for an infection.
This results indysbiosis, which is an imbalance in the gut microbiome.
Its not yet known exactly which probiotic might work best to preventdiarrhea after a course of antibiotics.
Treatment includes antibiotics and other medications.
Probiotics are being studied in preventing symptoms that may happen afterH.
Its not yet known which types of probiotics and in what dosage and combination might work best.
Preventing Necrotizing Enterocolitis
Babies bornprematurelycan developnecrotizing enterocolitisin their digestive system, which can be life-threatening.
Probiotics are being studied to help prevent this condition.
Preventing Infections After Surgery
The microflora is the bacteria on the skin.
Infections can develop at incision sites or elsewhere in the body after surgery.
Preventing this infection with probiotics has been the subject of a few studies.
Diarrhea in Children
Diarrhea in children is a major cause of disease in the developing world.
Probiotics have been studied for this use and are recommended by some experts in Latin America.
However, only certain types and probiotics that have been clinically tested are recommended.
The AGA recommends that probiotics not be used for diarrhea from gastroenteritis (stomach flu") in children.
The AGA does not recommend probiotic use in people with IBD.
This combination of strains includesLactobacillus paracaseisubspecies (subsp.
Some show benefit, while others show no improvement.
For that reason, probiotics arent currently recommended for IBS.
Vaginal Health
The vagina contains microorganisms that can become out of balance.
This could lead to infections, such asbacterial vaginosis.There is no guidance on who might benefit from vaginal probiotics.
One 2020 study has shown thatLactobacillus rhamnosusGR-1 andLactobacillus reuteriRC-14 may help prevent or treat some cases of bacterial vaginosis.
Prebiotics vs. Probiotics
Prebiotics are different from probiotics.Prebioticsare plant fibers that arent digested by the gastrointestinal system.
They are what probiotic organisms use for food.
Both probiotics and prebiotics play a role ingut health.
The label on the probiotic supplement should give instructions on when and how to take it.
One small 2017 study from Italy explored whether the time of day a probiotic is taken matters.
The two strains studied wereBifidobacterium longumandLactobacillus rhamnosus.
One group of study participants took the supplement before breakfast and another group took it after breakfast.
The strains showed up in the same amounts in both groups.
This discounts the importance of the time of day that taking a probiotic is most effective.
Probiotic supplements are usually only taken for a specific amount of timeusually days or, at most, weeks.
There isnt any evidence that they are any more helpful if taken every day for long periods of time.
In general, kefir and yogurt are the foods that have the highest amount of probiotic organisms in them.
One study showed that many probiotic supplements may contain gluten.
Possible Side Effects From Probiotics
Probiotics are generally considered safe in people who are in good health.
However, adverse effects from probiotics are possible.
In addition, probiotics may not be safe for people who live with serious health conditions.
Probiotic use may be risky in infants, especially those born prematurely or with serious health conditions.
Potential adverse effects of probiotics on the digestive system include:
Rashes and acne have also been reported.
In some people, these effects may lessen or go away if the probiotics are taken regularly.
In addition, staying hydrated by drinking enough water may also be helpful in some cases.
Popular Forms of Probiotic Supplements
Probiotics come in many forms.
Those taken orally include chewable tablets, freeze-dried capsules, powders, or liquids.
Probiotic supplements may contain more than one strain of microorganisms.
For most people, the list of bacterial strains on the label will not have much meaning.
A higher number does not always mean that the product is better or more effective.
Probiotic supplements may be helpful for some diseases and conditions.
People will need guidance from healthcare providers on which strains or formulations to use.
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