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Use of Probiotics in Managing Gastrointestinal Symptoms

Probiotics are defined as live microorganisms, which when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host.

There is a growing interest in finding out if probiotics can be used to help relieve symptoms of functional gastrointestinal (GI) and motility disorders. The variety of products, and claims for their usefulness, is increasing.

Probiotics, for example bacteria, are either the same as or similar to microorganisms found naturally in the human body and (in adequate amounts) may be beneficial to health. Also referred to as “good bacteria” or “helpful bacteria,” probiotics are available to consumers in oral products such as dietary supplements and yogurts, as well as other products.

Research Findings

Ten leading European gastroenterologists conducted a review of the evidence for the use of specific probiotics in managing certain lower GI problems. Their findings were published in 2013 in the peer-reviewed journal, Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics (Higgins, et al.).

The systematic review of randomized, placebo-controlled clinical studies on probiotics in adults looked mostly at studies of IBS patients. The authors sought to determine the level of available evidence to support the use of specific probiotics in adults. The findings are not applicable to children because the bacteria found in their gut differ from adults.

Among the conclusions, the authors found moderate evidence to support a role for specific probiotics in managing overall symptoms in patients with IBS with diarrhea; improving bowel movements and bloating or distension in patients with IBS; and improving some aspects of health-related quality of life.

The authors note that these findings are specific to individual strains or formulations of probiotics and cannot be applied from one probiotic to another. Moreover, specific probiotics will have different effects in different people; and a probiotic may show some benefit for one indication but not for another. Your age and health status when taking a probiotic will affect its potential benefit. They also note, when trying a probiotic for a chronic GI problem, the importance of taking the product:

  • In adequate doses
  • On a regular basis
  • For a reasonable period (of at least a month unless it cannot be tolerated)

Different formulations and doses are available in capsules, packets/sachets, yogurts, and fermented milks or fruit drinks. While research is supporting positive evidence for a role of probiotics in managing lower GI problems, clear guidance for specific uses remains to be found. Further studies are needed to establish high levels of evidence for the role of probiotics in treating functional GI disorders as well as other conditions.

About Probiotics

The concept behind probiotics was introduced in the early 20th century, when it was proposed that ingesting microorganisms could have substantial health benefits for humans. Scientists continued to investigate the concept, and the term probiotics – meaning “for life” – eventually came into use.

Picturing the human body as a “host” for bacteria and other microorganisms is helpful in understanding probiotics. The body, especially the lower GI tract (the gut), contains a complex and diverse community of bacteria. In the body of a healthy adult, cells of microorganisms are estimated to outnumber human cells by a factor of ten to one. Although we tend to think of bacteria as harmful “germs,” many bacteria actually help the body function properly.

Various mechanisms may account for the effects of probiotics on human health. Possible mechanisms include reducing harmful organisms in the intestine, producing antimicrobial compounds (substances that destroy or suppress the growth of microorganisms), and stimulating the body’s immune response.

Probiotics commonly used in the United States include Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. There are many specific types of bacteria within each of these two broad groups, and health benefits associated with one type may not hold true for others.

Although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved any health claims for probiotics, they are used for a variety of GI conditions such as infectious diarrhea, diarrhea associated with using antibiotics, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and inflammatory bowel disease (e.g., ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease). However, the rapid growth in marketing and consumer interest and use has outpaced scientific research on the safety and efficacy of probiotics for specific health applications.

Learn more about probiotics and antibiotics for IBS

What the Science Says

The potential of probiotics to benefit human health in many different ways has stimulated great interest and activity among researchers. For example, the U.S. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Probiotic and Prebiotic Working Group, a trans-NIH effort to identify gaps and challenges in prebiotic/probiotic research. Trans-NIH collaborations are a way that different areas of NIH work together to maximize resources in order to advance medical research. (Prebiotics are food ingredients that can selectively promote the growth of “good” intestinal bacteria.)

Probiotic research is moving forward on two fronts: basic science (laboratory studies) and clinical trials to evaluate the safety and efficacy of probiotics for various medical conditions. Many early clinical trials of probiotics have had methodological limitations, and definitive clinical evidence to support using specific probiotic strains for specific health purposes is generally lacking. Nevertheless, there is preliminary evidence for several uses of probiotics, and more studies are under way.

Learn more about whether probiotics could help alleviate your functional GI symtoms

Safety and Side Effects

It appears that most people do not experience side effects from probiotics or have only mild GI side effects, such as gas. But there have been some case reports of serious adverse effects, and research on safety is ongoing. However, the data on safety, particularly long-term safety, are limited, and the risk of serious side effects may be greater in people who have underlying health conditions.

Concerns have also been raised about the quality of probiotic products. Some products have been found to contain smaller numbers of live microorganisms than expected. In addition, some products have been found to contain bacterial strains other than those listed as ingredients.

If You Are Considering Probiotics

  • Before using probiotics, learn as much as you can by talking to your provider and researching reliable sources of information.
  • Probiotic products may contain different types of probiotic bacteria and have different effects in the human body. The effects also may vary from person to person.
  • Do not replace scientifically proven treatments with unproven products and practices. Do not use a complementary health product, such as probiotics, as a reason to postpone seeing your healthcare provider about any health problem.
  • If you are pregnant or nursing a child, or if you considering giving a child a dietary supplement, such as probiotics, it is especially important to consult your (or your child’s) healthcare provider.
  • Anyone with a serious underlying health problem should be monitored closely for potential negative side effects while taking probiotics.
  • Tell all your healthcare providers about any complementary health approaches you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health. This will help ensure coordinated and safe care.

Read tips to help find a credible probiotic product

Adapted from National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine NCCAM Pub #D345, December 2012.

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IFFGD is a nonprofit education and research organization. Our mission is to inform, assist, and support people affected by gastrointestinal disorders.

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