Probiotics

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'''Probiotics''' are [[supplements]] containing [[bacteria]]. Research has found probiotics good for certain conditions (such as antibiotic-induced diarrhea),<ref name=sbm>[http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/index.php/probiotics/ Probiotics], Mark Crislip, [[Science-Based Medicine]].</ref> but [[woo]]-meisters frequently make extravagant and unsubstantiated claims about probiotics' ability to [[Immune system boosting | "boost the immune system"]] and "replenish the gut flora" and the like. A 2018 study concluded that probiotics were largely useless.<ref name="bbc">https://www.bbc.com/news/health-45434753</ref>

Since probiotics, like many other [[nutritional supplement]]s, are practically unregulated, the actual contents of the pills can differ substantially from what's on the label. One study has shown that probiotics often contain bacteria not listed on the label and do not contain species that ''are'' listed on the label.<ref>
[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18493222 ''Rapid determination of the bacterial composition of commercial probiotic products by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis''], ''J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr''. 2008 May;46(5):608-11. doi: 10.1097/MPG.0b013e3181660694.
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== Prebiotics ==
Prebiotics are nutrients selectively used by beneficial microbes that occur naturally in the gut, such as ''Lactobacillus'' and ''Bifidobacteria''. Unlike probiotics, prebiotics do not need to contain live bacteria, making them easier to store and formulate. Instead, they are usually "fermentable fibers", i.e. particular oligosaccharides or polysaccharides, which are indigestible to humans, but digestible to these bacteria. Natural sources include for example [[onion]], wheat, barley and asparagus.<ref name="prebiotin">https://www.prebiotin.com/foods-containing-prebiotics/</ref> However, they may be also added to foods. While there is some promising preliminary research on their effectiveness for some conditions, hold your horses: clinical evidence is still scarce and derived from a small number of patients. This applies to inflammatory bowel disease,<ref name="Hedin2007">Hedin, 2007. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0029665107005563</ref> prevention of colon cancer,<ref name="Geier2006">Geier, 2006. https://doi.org/10.4161/cbt.5.10.3296</ref> reduction of infections in infants,<ref name="Lohner2014">Lohner, 2014. https://academic.oup.com/nutritionreviews/article-abstract/72/8/523/2749229?redirectedFrom=fulltext</ref><ref name="Lomax2009">Lomax, 2009. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114508055608</ref> and hypertension.<ref name="Yeo2009">Yeo, 2009. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms10083517</ref> Results for irritable bowel syndrome and prevention of infections in adults are unconvincing,<ref name="Lomax2009" /> and prebiotics have no effect on blood glucose levels in diabetics or on cholesterol.<ref name="Yeo2009" /> Nevertheless, while there is some science behind this, adding prebiotics to food products and selling them as "health foods" would be very easy and cheap, and would make a good business.

==In a nutshell==
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==See also==
*[[Feces therapy]]

==External links==
*[http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/ive-been-prescribed-an-antibiotic-should-i-take-a-probiotic I’ve been prescribed an antibiotic. Should I take a probiotic?], [[Science-Based Medicine]].

==References==
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[[Category:Alternative medicine]]
[[Category:Medicine]]

Categories: Alternative medicine, Medicine