Probiotics resemble the beneficial microorganisms in your gut that keep your your digestive tract functioning properly. Sources of probiotics include dietary supplements and a variety of foods, such as yogurt, tempeh and miso. Increasing your intake of probiotics may help decrease symptoms of gas and constipation. Consult you doctor before self-treating with probiotics.
Probiotic Function
If your digestive tract has a greater abundance of bad bacteria than friendly bacteria, you have a greater risk of developing gastrointestinal distress, including gas and constipation. Probiotics help fight against this distress by forming temporary colonies that protect you like colonies of beneficial microorganisms and give these beneficial microorganisms time to return to normal levels. As the good and bad bacteria in your gut return to normal levels, expect to experience fewer bouts of gas and constipation, as well as decreased symptoms of gastrointestinal disorders.
Probiotics and Constipation
While scientific studies often show the effectiveness of probiotics on constipation, some studies showed no improvement in the condition, according to a January 2010 review of probiotics for constipation published in the "World Journal of Gastroenterology." This review noted decreased constipation in adults who participated in studies on the probiotic strains Lactobacillus casei, Escherichia coli and Bifidobacterium, while only the probiotic strain Lactobacillus casei helped decrease constipation in kids.
Probiotics and Gas
A study published in the November 2009 issue of "BMC Gastroenterology" found that the probiotic Bacillus coagulans helps reduce symptoms of gas in both healthy adults and in adults with irritable bowel syndrome. Other probiotic strains that often help relieve problems related to gas, especially in people with irritable bowel syndrome, include Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus acidophilus, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Considerations
Read product labels of all probiotic foods and supplements carefully to ensure that they state the presence of "live and active cultures." Without live and active cultures, the probiotics have no effect. Similarly, consuming the wrong types of probiotics will not produce the desired effects. Consult your doctor to determine the best probiotics for your gas and constipation.
Precautions
While probiotics benefit most people with gas and constipation, they may cause increased gas, bloating or flatulence when you first begin adding them to your diet. These symptoms typically disappear as your body adjusts to probiotic use. Consult your doctor if you have pancreatitis and immunosuppressive diseases, such as HIV, because probiotics may increase your risk of death due to infection.
References
- UAB Medicine; Probiotics; July 2006
- "World Journal of Gastroenterology"; Systematic Review of Randomised Controlled Trials: Probiotics for Functional Constipation; Anna Chmielewska and Hania Szajewska; January 2010
- "BMC Gastroenterology"; A Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Parallel-Group Dual Site Trial to Evaluate the Effects of a Bacillus Coagulans-Based Product on Functional Intestinal Gas Symptoms; Douglas S. Kalman, et al.; November 2009
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- NYU Langone Medical Center: Acidophilus and Other Probiotics
