The World Health Organization defines probiotics as “live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host.” Also called normal flora or gut bacteria, probiotics are often used to alleviate digestive problems. According to the American Gastroenterology Association, it’s important to choose certain types of probiotics for particular intestinal health issues. Look for them on the ingredient list of foods or supplements.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Characterized by abdominal pain, bloating, constipation and diarrhea, IBS affects more than 20 percent of North American adults. Evidence shows that probiotics alleviate these often-debilitating symptoms. The peer-reviewed journal Nutrition in Clinical Practice reported in 2008 that in one study almost 400 female subjects with IBS experienced a 20 percent reduction in symptoms with Bifidobacterium infantis compared to placebo. In another study, patients who took B infantis had a 20 to 25 percent decline in symptoms compared to a those who took a different probiotic. According to the American Gastroenterology Association, B infantis, Saccharomyces boulardii and Lactobacillus plantarum may help regulate bowel movements in people with IBS.
Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea
If you have ever had loose stools after even just one dose of antibiotics, you have experienced antibiotic-associated diarrhea. The incidence of this phenomenon has skyrocketed by 500 percent since 1995, as reported by researchers in Nutrition in Clinical Practice. The same article cites a study in which 740 patients took antibiotics. Thirteen percent of subjects taking a placebo had diarrhea, while none of the patients taking Lactobacillus did. Participants in another study who took S. boulardii while on antibiotics experienced 36 fewer hours of diarrhea compared to placebo. A meta-analysis in Practical Gastroenterology reports that S. boulardii, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and probiotic mixtures significantly reduce the development of antibiotic-associated diarrhea.
Traveler’s Diarrhea
Depending on the destination, 5 to 50 percent of travelers experience diarrhea from exposure to unfamiliar bacteria in contaminated food and water. Probiotics colonize the gut and prevent harmful bacteria from attaching. A meta-analysis of 12 studies published in Nutrition in Clinical Practice in 2009 concluded that S. boulardii and a mixture of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifodibacterium bifidum were effective in preventing traveler’s diarrhea. American Family Physician cited a study in which L. rhamnosus GG decreased the prevalence by up to 47 percent.
Lactose Intolerance
According to the National Institutes of Health, lactose intolerance occurs when your small intestine has inadequate amounts of the lactase enzyme to break down lactose for absorption. When your body cannot absorb lactose, you may experience abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea and nausea. The NIH warns that avoiding dairy reduces your daily calcium intake by up to 80 percent, increasing your risk of bone loss and skeletal fracture. In a report on lactose intolerance and health, the NIH affirms that the probiotic strains Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus are effective in delivering lactase to the small intestine. Consuming yogurt with live forms of these strains improves lactose intolerance. Look for the National Yogurt Association’s Live Active Cultures seal.
References
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations/World Health Organization Working Group on Drafting Guidelines for the Evaluation of Probiotics in Food
- AGA Probiotics: What they are and what they can do for you
- Behavioral and Complementary Approaches for the Treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Nutr Clin Pract 2008; 23; 284
- Probiotics: A Practical Review of Their Role in Specific Clinical Scenarios
- Probiotics and Prebiotics in Gastrointestinal Disorders: Clinical Therapeutic Effects of Probiotics
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