It Turns Out Probiotics Can Only Treat Certain Conditions
Over
the last few years, probiotics have become immensely popular and are being used
by millions of health-conscious people all over the world. Probiotics are specific live microorganisms
(such as bacteria and yeasts) that are supposed to be good for our bodies when
eaten, especially for our digestive system. The health benefits of probiotics
are presumably many: weight loss, digestive health, healthier skin, immune
function betterment, and even improvement of some mental health conditions.
As
more and more studies have cropped up about the numerous health benefits of
probiotics, people have begun taking it regularly in pill form, or by eating
more fermented foods like yogurt, and other food products.
However,
before being completely smitten with the idea of the health benefits of probiotics,
we should be a little cautious. According to new guidelines released by
the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA), there isn’t sufficient evidence
to support the recommendation of using probiotics for treating most digestive
diseases.
“While
our guideline does highlight a few use cases for probiotics, it, more
importantly, underscores that the public’s assumptions about the benefits of
probiotics are not well-founded, and there is also a major variation in results
based on the formulation of the probiotic product,” said guideline panel chair
Dr. Grace L. Su, a gastroenterologist at the University of Michigan, in a press
release recently.
New guidelines say that probiotics
are beneficial for only particular conditions
You might be aware that probiotic pills
are available by prescription in certain places and are also available
over the counter in many countries. As the popularity of probiotics has
surged, many companies are marketing them as dietary supplements. In countries
like the USA, these companies don’t even need preapproval from the Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) to market them. However, they cannot make any health
claims about these products.
It is true that probiotics can indeed be pretty helpful.
When we think of bacteria, we instantly imagine harmful germs. However, the
stomach and intestines are comprised of millions of helpful bacteria and
yeasts. The human gut consists of about
300 to 500 different bacterial species that engage in intricate ways with the
body and with each other.
Now, the latest review by the AGA has claimed that
probiotics may be helpful with some gut-related issues. For instance, some
probiotics may be beneficial for preterm, low-birth-weight infants. The review
states that they can help shorten the number of days infants will have
to stay at the hospital. Furthermore, certain probiotics can lower
the risk of Clostridium difficile (a bacteria that causes inflammation
of the colon) infection in adults and children who take antibiotics. The review
further stated that some probiotics can be useful in helping manage pouchitis
– a swelling of the ileal pouch in patients who have undergone a colectomy as a
result of ulcerative colitis.
Despite these benefits, however, it would be unwise to treat
probiotics as some wonder cure for many of our digestive health issues. The AGA
has observed that there is a clear lack of evidence to support the use of
probiotics for other health conditions.
“Patients taking probiotics for
Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis or [irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)] should consider
stopping,” said Su in the news release. “The supplements can be costly and
there isn’t enough evidence to prove a benefit or confirm lack of harm.” The
review also found that probiotics aren’t useful for children with infectious
diarrhea.