ARE PROBIOTICS MONEY DOWN THE TOILET? OR WORSE?
ARE PROBIOTICS MONEY DOWN THE TOILET? OR WORSE?
Check out this article published on JAMA online that reports on the limited benefits, and potential harms, in our current use of probiotics:
“With interest growing in natural therapies, the popularity of probiotics is on the rise. In 2012, almost 4 million US adults reported using probiotics or prebiotics—4 times more than in 2007. Probiotics were used in more than 50 000 hospitalizations in 139 US hospitals in 2012. And last year alone, US consumers spent an estimated $2.4 billion on the supplements.
Two recent studies by researchers in Israel, however, are raising questions about the widespread use of probiotics to impart general wellness and restore intestinal flora after the use of antibiotics, 2 common indications.
In 1 study, the bacteria in a probiotic supplement failed to colonize the guts of a proportion of participants, suggesting that the bugs may pass through some people with no effect. In the other study, the same bacteria took up residence in the intestines after a course of antibiotics but appeared to delay the return of the native microbiota. Both studies, which involved healthy participants, were published in the journal Cell last October.
Probiotics are defined as “live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host.” But some experts say that any evidence of benefit, which is limited to a small number of indications, is conflicting and often low quality.
… There’s a general belief among some physicians and the public that consuming “good” bacteria in the form of a pill can edge out “bad” bugs and promote gut health even in healthy people. Yet in most clinical trials that involved healthy people, probiotics didn’t significantly change gut flora. With the Weizmann Institute study, the claim may be more dubious than ever, Kelly said: “The idea that people could just take probiotics for general health—you might be wasting your money.”
DON’T LOSE ALL HOPE! We just have more to learn about how probiotics each INDIVIDUAL. One expert “believes that in the not-so-distant future, machine learning algorithms could be used to tailor specific probiotic strains to individuals based on their baseline gut microbiome and gene expression profile, thereby increasing the probiotic’s chances of inducing meaningful clinical effects.”
As mentioned innumerable times before on our blog and social media posts, there is SO MUCH mind-blowing information to learn about the gut microbiome, prebiotics, and probiotics influence on our health. The impact of the microbiome on gut symptoms, food allergies, cancer risks, weight management, mood and brain disorders is simply fascinating. I eagerly anticipate learning all that science will have to offer on this topic in the decades to come.
Please call 224.407.4400 or visit compgihealth.com schedule an appointment. We are eager to share all we know about the impact the gut microbiome may have on your health and wellness.