Probiotics
Anaphylaxis
27/03/2021
Vitamin A
20/04/2021Probiotics
Probiotics are bacteria that can lead to benefits to the large bowels when taken in an appropriate amount.
But are they all good?
For me to have a better idea about that, I went to find the evidence behind it.
There are over 2.5k articles focusing on 22 different probiotics.
From those articles, I found 249 RCTs (𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘴), with most of them being sponsored by the company selling them.
So take their conclusions with a pinch of salt…
The most effective use for them is diarrhoea, IBD (𝘐𝘯𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘉𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘭 𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦) and IBS (𝘐𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘉𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘭 𝘚𝘺𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘦).
The conditions for which probiotics are helpful and the evidence's strength can be found on the following article:
𝘊𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘪𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵: 𝘈𝘯 𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦-𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘥𝘦. 𝘩𝘵𝘵𝘱𝘴://𝘥𝘰𝘪.𝘰𝘳𝘨/𝟷𝟶.𝟷𝟹𝟽𝟷/𝘫𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭.𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘦.𝟶𝟸𝟶𝟿𝟸𝟶𝟻 𝘋𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝟸𝟼, 𝟸𝟶𝟷𝟾.
This means not all probiotics have any evidence based effect on your health.
And the helpful ones are disease specific.
At least, from all of them, we know there are no absolute contraindications to their use.
Other benefits found are that they:
- Stimulate the immune system.
- Can decrease the inflammatory response.
- Can improve vaccine response.
Where are they found:
- Fermented milk drinks.
- Some yoghurts.
- Supplements.
How to take them:
- There is scant evidence comparing which type of formulation may be more effective.
- The choice of formulation may be based on shelf-life, in that lyophilized capsules maintain high concentrations longer than probiotics in dairy products. Enteric-coated capsules show higher survival rates than non-enteric coated capsules.
- Probiotic capsules requiring refrigeration are heat-dried (not lyophilized) and thus unstable at room temperature, limiting their portability.
- Besides, if the patient is lactose-intolerant, yoghurts or other types of fermented dairy products may not be advisable.
Be careful with quality control, as some will have less than stated.
