Probiotics are bacteria that help maintain the natural balance of organisms in the intestines. Probiotics are often used as dietary supplements to help treat problems in the digestive tract, including diarrhea and inflammation.
Diarrhea
Intestinal infections are common in infants and children because of the immaturity of their digestive tracts. These infections or the antibiotics used to treat them can cause diarrhea. Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium infantis appear to be the most beneficial probiotics for children in the treatment of diarrhea, according to research presented by the American Society of Microbiology.
Probiotics may also be useful in treating adult diarrhea due to bacterial gastroenteritis, usually as a result of the overgrowth of a bacterium called Clostridium difficile. Saccharomyces boulardii was also found to reduce occurrence of diarrhea in a study of participants infected with traveler's diarrhea.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's may be caused or aggravated by alterations in the normal bacterial flora of the intestinal tract. One preliminary study found that a combination of probiotics may be useful in alleviating some of the symptoms of IBD.
Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema)
Lactobacillus GG given to pregnant mothers whose children were at a higher risk of developing eczema was found to significantly reduce the incidence of allergic atopic dermatitis. The probiotic is thought to help immunity toward allergens.
Immune System Response
Some animal studies have shown that probiotics may be helpful in enhancing the immune system by increasing the response of several cells in the spleen. One small human study found a measurable increase in the immune function of the elderly when given dietary supplements of two probiotics, but researchers do caution that this study remains preliminary and needs further data to support the idea that probiotics can boost immunity.
Vaginal Infections and Urinary Tract Infections
Many women suffer from vaginal infections and urinary tract infections that occur because of bacterial and yeast overgrowth. Probiotics have been studied in the prevention and treatment of these conditions with mixed results. Lactobacillus has been shown in laboratory studies to inhibit candida yeast, a common contributor to many vaginal infections. Since lactobacilli bacteria are not normally found in the vagina, researchers believe that supplementation with probiotics can decrease the frequency of the recurrence of vaginal infections by as much as 80 percent.
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