Introduction:
Probiotics are microscopic organisms that support and treat several conditions of the digestive system and other health conditions. However, they are not the answer to treating all health problems, and they may worsen some conditions. They help by several mechanisms to resist certain diseases:
1) Probiotics are beneficial bacteria or yeast which provide a barrier against infection.
2) They compete with pathologic organisms by consuming the available nutrients in the GI tract.
3) Probiotics are known to change the pH of the intestines which favors growth of beneficial bacteria.
4) Probiotics increase the ability of the immune system to react to infections.
Probiotics for prevention:
Multiple strains of probiotic lactic acid bacteria may be beneficial for general health, although research studies are mixed. Clinically useful examples of probiotics include Saccharomyces boulardii yeast and lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium). Probiotics are effective in treating several conditions which cause diarrhea and are discussed in detail below. Multiple strains of probiotic lactic acid bacteria have also been found to be beneficial for various other conditions. Specific species of probiotics with evidence of benefit in specific disease states are available elsewhere in Preventive Health Advisor database. For general health, yogurt with 3-5 active strains of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium cultures should consumed several times per week. Yogurt with active cultures typically contain the several billion microorganisms necessary for it to be beneficial. A probiotic supplement should also contain several billion microorganisms for it to be effective. Probiotics are considered safe and well tolerated, however caution should be taken in patients who are critically ill and should not be used by neutropenic or immunocompromised patients. The most common side-effects of oral probiotics include bloating and flatulence. Probiotics may contribute to bacterial overgrowth of the gastrointestinal tract resulting in excess gas, bloating and sometimes abdominal pain.
Probiotics for acute infectious diarrhea:
Probiotics were reviewed in a meta-analysis with 63 studies and a total of 8014 subjects and noted that the studies were extremely variable in the types and dosage of probiotics used. In the analysis, it was not possible to determine the difference in effectiveness between various probiotic strains due to the variability. Nonetheless, use of probiotics in the analysis did not show any adverse effects, and actually reduced the average duration of the illness by 24.76 hours when used for acute infectious diarrhea. The authors expressed that probiotics along with hydration are beneficial therapy for acute infectious diarrhea. (2)
Probiotics for Clostridium difficile colitis (Cdiff)
Probiotics for Clostridium difficile colitis (Cdiff)
Probiotics for antibiotic associated diarrhea
How probiotics help avoid antibiotic associated diarrhea
Probiotics for acne:
Summary and Conclusion: Probiotics General Information
- For treatment of gastrointestinal conditions other than bacterial overgrowth and infectious diarrhea, yogurt with 3-5 or more live active strains of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium cultures should consumed 2-7 times per week. Yogurt with active cultures typically contain the several billion microorganisms necessary for it to be beneficial. A probiotic supplement should also contain several billion microorganisms for it to be effective.
- Probiotics were reviewed for use in acute infectious diarrhea (abrupt onset of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea related to viruses and bacteria ) in a meta-analysis with 63 studies and a total of 8014 subjects and noted that the studies were extremely variable in the types and dosage of probiotics used. In the analysis, it was not possible to determine the difference in effectiveness between various probiotic strains due to the variability. Nonetheless, use of probiotics in the analysis did not show any adverse effects, and actually reduced the average duration of the illness by 24.76 hours when used for acute infectious diarrhea. (2)
- Probiotics are considered safe and well tolerated, however caution should be taken in patients who are critically ill and should not be used by neutropenic or immunocompromised patients. The most common side-effects of oral probiotics include bloating and flatulence. Probiotics may contribute to bacterial overgrowth of the gastrointestinal tract resulting in excess gas, bloating and sometimes abdominal pain.
- Multiple strains of probiotic lactic acid bacteria may be beneficial for general health, although research studies are mixed. Probiotics are thus far known to be effective in research for acute infectious diarrhea, Clostridium difficile colitis (Cdiff) diarrhea, antibiotic associated diarrhea, and acne. Probiotics help avoid antibiotic associated diarrhea. Probiotics help Clostridium difficile colitis (Cdiff) diarrhea. Probiotics help acne.
Reference:
1.Williams NT. Probiotics. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2010 Mar 15;67(6):449-58. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20208051
2.Allen SJ, Martinez EG, Gregorio GV, Dans LF. Probiotics for treating acute infectious diarrhea. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010 Nov 10;(11):CD003048. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21069673