"Pro Biota" is Latin and means "for life" -- probiotics are beneficial bacteria that your body needs to maintain good health. There are more than 1,000 types of microbes in your body; each of them with a specific function. Probiotics can help with digestion, prevent illness and infection, aid in the treatment of Chrone's disease, irritable bowel syndrome and colitis and produce vitamins, according to US Probiotics.
Although generally regarded as safe, ask your doctor before taking probiotic supplements.
Probiotic Basics
The World Health organization defines a probiotic as a "live microorganism, which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host." These beneficial bacteria are found in fermented foods such as kefir, yogurt, miso, tempeh, sauerkraut and kimchi, or can be taken as supplements. The majority of probiotic bacteria live in your lower intestine, away from the harsh acidic environment of your stomach and small intestine. Your body maintains a careful balance of friendly and less-than-friendly bacteria; when something upsets this balance, harmful bacteria can multiply and cause health issues. Antibiotics upset this balance and both Culturelle and Floragen can help treat the side-effects of antibiotic usage.
Culturelle
Culturelle contains one specific type of probiotic bacteria -- 10 billion live cells of Lactobacillus GG. According to the Harvard Medical School, the best evidence for the effectiveness of probiotic therapy is the use of Lactobacillus GG in the treatment of antibiotic-related diarrhea. Although studies are limited, Culturelle may help shorten the duration and intensity of diarrhea by 60 percent when compared with a placebo. Culturelle may also help shorten the length of time children suffer from infectious diarrhea, but the same benefit was not seen in adults.
Florajen
Florajen is also a one-strain probiotic supplement; it contains 20 billion live cells of Lactobacillus acidophilus. Acidophilus is the type of bacteria found in yogurt and can be used to help treat and prevent overgrowths of Candida albicans. Candida is a yeast-like fungus that lives in your digestive system; but when it reproduces too quickly the overgrowth can cause oral thrush, jock itch, a vaginal yeast infection or athlete's foot. Antibiotics destroy the beneficial bacteria that normally keep candida in check. Mayo Clinic recommends taking acidophilus supplements such as Florajen or eating unsweetened yogurt to treat candida.
Conclusion
Because each probiotic strain can have a different function, it may be necessary to take both Culturelle and Florajen at the same time — or another product that contains multiple culture types. If using probiotics during a course of antibiotics, take your probiotics at least two hours before or after taking the antibiotic to avoid a drug interaction. Antibiotics can weaken the strength of your probiotics, although probiotics do not affect antibiotics. A candida overgrowth can also be caused by a diet high in sugar, chronic elevated glucose levels or undiagnosed diabetes. Lactobacillus GG may also treat traveler's diarrhea; but it depends on the region, as bacteria vary geographically.
References
- USProbiotics: Probiotic Basics
- Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide; Health Benefits of Taking Probiotics; Septemeber 2005
- Medline Plus: Lactobacillus
- MayoClinic.com; Oral Thrush -- Treatment and Drugs; August 2011
- Culturelle.com: Culturelle Probiotics
- Florajen.com: Florajen High Potency Acidophilus
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