What are probiotics?
Probiotics are “live micro-organisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host.” (FAO/WHO, 2001)
Probiotics are usually selected from lactic acid bacteria, with prominent species including Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria; although, some species of yeast, such as Saccharomyces boulardii can also be considered probiotic.
Probiotics are identified by their 3-part name, made up of the genus, species, and strain. For example:
The health benefits seen from probiotics are referred to as “strain-specific” – meaning researched benefits of a particular strain of probiotic bacteria cannot be generalised to a different strain of bacteria, even if they have the same genus and species.
Why use probiotics?
Probiotics help to maintain a balance of beneficial bacteria while preventing the growth of potentially harmful bacteria in the digestive system.
Factors such as the natural ageing process, stress, an unbalanced diet and antibiotics can upset this balance. This is where probiotics may help to:
- Reduce the number of potentially harmful bacteria and the toxins they produce, and improve the number of beneficial bacteria
- Improve stool consistency and regularity
- Assist with the digestion and absorption of nutrients
- Contribute to the formation of some vitamins
- Enhance the innate immune system
How to choose an effective probiotic.
Not all probiotics are the same, the actions and health benefits vary depending on the particular genus, species and strain of bacteria.
An effective probiotic must contain the following characteristics:
- Present in sufficient quantities
- Products containing bacteria are required to have 1 million bacteria per ml (FSANZ Std. 2.5.3)
- Proven to exert beneficial health effects on the host