How to Choose the Best Probiotic for You

Probiotics seem to be all the rage these days. With many purported benefits and a relatively low risk of side effects, manufacturers are taking advantage of booming business opportunities. It is important that you be as educated as possible about the best types of probiotics so you can choose what is right for you and your family.

What Are Probiotics?

Probiotics are live microorganisms (bacteria or yeast) that have been shown to have a health benefit for humans. They are available in supplement form or in probiotic foods and drinks. Probiotics are thought to be akin to (and to increase the level of) the "good" bacteria found in your intestines. These "good" bacteria are thought to enhance our health through their support of our immune systems.

There are many types of probiotics on the market, two of the major groups are lactobacillus or bifidobacterium. Regardless of groups, each has a variety of strains. Although it is not known for sure, some scientists think that different strains have different effects on your body.

Why Now?

The current probiotic push lends itself to the question, "If humans got along fine without taking a probiotic supplement for thousands of years, why are they so important now?" Although there is no definitive answer to this question, there have been some significant cultural changes that have had an impact on the gut flora (the population of organisms that populate our intestines).

These include the use of antibiotics, diets lacking in gut-healthy plant food, refrigeration and improved sterilization of foods. What we don't yet know is true is if probiotics actually turn around these changes and support the health of your gut flora.

Possible Benefits

Probiotics are being studied for a wide range of health benefits. Probiotics are theorized to have the following health benefits:

• Boost the immune system
• Help to ward off infection
• Reduce the population of harmful bacteria
• Improve the thickness and strength of the mucus that lines the intestines

Probiotics for Specific Health Problems

Although many manufacturers will make claims regarding the benefit of probiotics for all sorts of disorders, there is not always research to back up those claims. It can be difficult to conduct quality research on probiotics due to the wide variety of strains available. And many studies show mixed results, but research is ongoing.

There is some research support for the use of probiotics for the following health conditions:

• Antibiotic-associated diarrhea (Lactobacillus GG)
• Atopic dermatitis
• Candida
• Gingivitis and periodontitis
• Infectious diarrhea
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Lactose intolerance
• Small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)
• Viral infection, acute, in children 

Additionally, there is preliminary research that indicates that probiotics may play a role in the prevention of the following health disorders:

• Asthma in infants and children
• Dental cavities
• Travelers' diarrhea (Lactobacillus GG)
• Relapse of Clostridium dificile (C difficile) infection (Lactobacillus GG)
• Urinary tract infection

Probiotics may play a role in preventing infection from C. difficile, a bacterium that causes diarrhea and colitis. The American Gastroenterology Association (AGA), in its 2020 clinical practice guidelines, recommends certain probiotic strains over no or other probiotics for prevention of C difficile infection. 

How to Choose a Probiotic Supplement

If you decide to use a probiotic supplement and get clearance from your doctor for doing so, be sure to read the label carefully. You want to be sure that the supplement contains live strains of the bacteria or yeast, and that the life of these strains is guaranteed at the time of use, and not at the time of manufacture. Other points of comparison are the number of bacteria strains and the number of colony-forming units, although this does not necessarily guarantee results.

Unfortunately, the U.S. has no federal standards for probiotic supplements. Therefore, you run the risk of purchasing a product without any guarantee that it contains its advertised probiotic strains, that the strains are alive, or that the product is free from unhealthy ingredients. Therefore, it may be best to choose a brand-name probiotic that has research backing their effectiveness. Here are some examples:

• Align
• Culturelle
• Florastor
• VSL#3

Remember that probiotics are live organisms. Be sure to use your purchased probiotics before their expiration date and to store them according to package instructions. Some formulations require refrigeration while others because they are in dormancy, are okay in a cool, dry place.

A Cautionary Note

Although most studies have shown few, if any, negative side effects, it is important to keep in mind that research on probiotics is still in a preliminary phase. There may be some risk for people who have certain health conditions or compromised immune systems. As with any supplement, it is essential that before you begin to take a probiotic supplement, that you speak with your physician first to help to ensure that you will not be putting your health at risk.