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Probiotics: are they beneficial?
Sasha R Fehily1,2, Chamara Basnayake1,2, Emily K Wright1,2
1Department of Gastroenterology, St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Internal Medicine Journal
|May 8, 2024
Summary
Probiotic effectiveness for adult gastrointestinal (GI) issues varies greatly. While some probiotics show benefits for specific conditions, many lack proven efficacy, requiring more research.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Microbiology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Australasia offers numerous probiotic products.
- Probiotics are widely used for gastrointestinal (GI) health.
- Evidence for probiotic efficacy in GI conditions is often mixed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the efficacy of probiotics for adult GI conditions.
- To assess the clinical relevance of these probiotics.
- To provide evidence-based recommendations for probiotic use.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of existing literature.
- Analysis of clinical trial data on probiotic efficacy.
- Evaluation of probiotic strains, species, and combinations.
Main Results:
- Inconsistent benefits observed across various GI indications.
- Strong consensus on efficacy was reached for only a limited number of uses.
- Probiotic efficacy is strain-specific; results are not interchangeable.
Conclusions:
- Specific probiotics are endorsed for narrow indications.
- The efficacy of many marketed probiotic formulations is unproven.
- Further research is essential to validate probiotic use in clinical practice.
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