Probiotics and Digestive Health

Probiotics have been studied most in regard to digestive health (22).

The strongest evidence has to do with antibiotic-associated diarrhea.

When people take antibiotics, especially for long periods of time, they often suffer from diarrhea
for a long time after the infection has been eradicated.

This is because the antibiotics kill many of the natural bacteria in the gut, which shifts the
balance and allows the "bad" bacteria to thrive.

Dozens of studies have provided strong evidence that probiotic supplements can help cure
antibiotic-associated diarrhea (23, 24, 25).

Probiotics have also been shown to be beneficial against irritable bowel syndrome, a very
common digestive disorder. They can help reduce gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea and other
symptoms (26, 27, 28).

Some studies also show that probiotics may be beneficial against inflammatory bowel diseases
such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis (29).

Probiotics may also be useful against Helicobacter pylori infections, the main driver of ulcers
and stomach cancer (30, 31, 32, 33).

If you currently have digestive problems that you can't seem to get rid of, then perhaps a
probiotic supplement is something you should consider.

Bottom Line: Probiotics have been shown to be effective against various digestive problems.
This includes antibiotic-associated diarrhea and irritable bowel syndrome.

Probiotics and Weight Loss

Obese people have different gut bacteria than lean people (34).

Animal studies have also shown that fecal transplants from lean animals can make obese animals
lose weight (35, 36).

For this reason, many scientists now believe that our gut bacteria are important in determining
body fatness (37, 38).

Although this needs to be studied a lot more, some probiotic strains have been shown to help
with weight loss (39).
The most impressive study on this was published in 2013. It was a study of 210 individuals with
central obesity (lots of fat in the belly area).

In this study, taking the probiotic Lactobacillus gasseri caused people to lose 8.5% of their belly
fat mass over a period of 12 weeks (40).

When they stopped taking the probiotic, they gained the belly fat back within 4 weeks.

There is also some evidence that Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Bifidobacterium lactis can help
with weight loss and obesity prevention (41).

However, this needs to be studied more before any recommendations can be made.

There are also some animal studies showing that other probiotic strains could even lead to weight
gain, not loss (42).

Other Health Benefits of Probiotics

Getting into all the incredible benefits of probiotics is beyond the scope of this article.

However, there are a few that are definitely worth highlighting here:

 Inflammation: Probiotics have been shown to reduce systemic inflammation, a leading

driver of many diseases (43).
 Depression and anxiety: The probiotic strains Lactobacillus helveticus and
Bifidobacterium longum have been shown to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression
in people with clinical depression (44, 45).
 Blood cholesterol: Several probiotics have been shown to lower total and LDL
cholesterol levels (46, 47).
 Blood pressure: Probiotics have also been shown to cause modest reductions in blood
pressure (48, 49).
 Immune function: Several probiotic strains can enhance immune function and lead to
reduced risk of infections, including the common cold (50, 51).
 Skin health: There is some evidence that probiotics can be useful for acne, rosacea and
eczema, as well as other skin disorders (52).

This is just the tip of the iceberg. Probiotics have been shown to be beneficial for a wide range of
other health problems.

For more details, here are the top 8 health benefits of probiotics.

Bottom Line: Probiotics have been shown to have numerous health benefits. They may reduce
depression and anxiety, improve heart health and enhance immune function, to name a few.

Are There Any Side Effects?

Probiotics are generally well tolerated and considered safe for most people.

However, in the first few days, you may experience side effects related to digestion. This
includes gas and mild abdominal discomfort (53).

After this initial adaptation period is over, your digestion should be better than it was before.

In people with compromised immune systems, probiotics can lead to dangerous infections. This
includes people with HIV, AIDS and several other conditions (54).

If you have a medical condition, definitely consult with your doctor before taking a probiotic
supplement.

Bottom Line: Probiotic supplements may cause digestive symptoms, but this should subside
within a few days. They may be dangerous for people with certain medical conditions.

Take Home Message

Maintaining a healthy gut goes way beyond just taking a probiotic supplement.

What you do from day to day is just as important, since all sorts of lifestyle factors have been
shown to affect your gut bacteria.

An evidence-based article from our experts at Authority Nutrition.