An Introduction to Probiotics
information provided by
http://nccam.nih.gov/
Probiotics are live microorganisms that are similar
to beneficial microorganisms found in the human gut. They are also called
"friendly bacteria" or "good bacteria." Probiotics are available
in the form of dietary supplements and foods.
Tell your health care providers
about any probiotics you use. This will help ensure coordinated and safe care.
What Probiotics Are
Most probiotics are bacteria similar to those naturally found in people's
guts. Most often, the bacteria come from two groups,
Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium. Within each group, there are different species
(for example, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidus), and within
each species, different strains (or varieties). A few common probiotics, such as
Saccharomyces boulardii, are yeasts, which are different from bacteria.
Probiotics are not the same thing as prebiotics--nondigestible food
ingredients that selectively stimulate the growth and/or activity of beneficial
microorganisms already in people's colons. When probiotics and prebiotics are
mixed together, they form a symbiotic.
Probiotics are available in foods and dietary supplements (for example,
capsules, tablets, and powders) and in some other forms as well. Examples of
foods containing probiotics are yogurt, fermented and unfermented milk, miso,
tempeh, and some juices and soy beverages. In probiotic foods and supplements,
the bacteria may have been present originally or added during preparation.
Some probiotic foods date back to ancient times, such as fermented foods and
cultured milk products. Interest in probiotics in general has been growing;
Americans' spending on probiotic supplements, for example, nearly tripled from
1994 to 2003.
Probiotics for Health
There are several reasons that people are interested in probiotics for health
purposes.
First, the world is full of microorganisms (including bacteria), and so are
people's bodies--in and on the skin and in the gut. Friendly
bacteria are vital to proper development of the immune system, to protection
against microorganisms that could cause disease, and to the digestion and
absorption of food and nutrients. Each person's mix of bacteria varies.
Interactions between a person and the microorganisms in his body, and among the
microorganisms themselves, can be crucial to the person's health and well-being.
This bacterial "balancing act" can be thrown off by antibiotics, when they kill friendly bacteria in the gut along with
unfriendly bacteria. Some people use probiotics to try to offset side effects
from antibiotics.
"Unfriendly" microorganisms such as disease-causing bacteria, yeasts, fungi, and
parasites can also upset the balance.
Probiotics Side Effects and Risks
Probiotics' side effects, if they occur, tend to be mild and digestive (such
as gas or bloating).
Points To Consider About Probiotics
Effects from one species or strain of probiotics do not necessarily hold true
for others, or even for different preparations of the same species or strain.
If you use a probiotic product and experience an effect that concerns you,
contact your health care provider.
-- Probiotic Products --
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