Israeli Study On Use Of Probiotics Underlines Need For Personalized Treatment
September 09, 2018
“This article was re-published with permission from NoCamels.com – Israeli Innovation News.”
An infographic showing the probiotics study, September 2018. Courtesy
Probiotics, live microorganisms of “good” bacteria and yeasts found in food and supplements, have long been believed to promote digestive health and help ward off illnesses. Probiotics are among the most commonly consumed dietary supplements and over 60 percent of healthcare providers prescribe them to patients, according to a 2017 study. Another 2017 report, based on ingredient type, application, and regions showed that the global probiotics market is valued at some $40 billion, and is expected grow to about $66 billion by 2024.
A newly published Israeli study on the benefits of probiotics, which have not been definitely medically proven, pours cold water on the idea that regularly ingesting the “good” bacteria has any health advantages and questions whether they may, in some cases, cause harm.
In two separate reports published in the September 6, 2018 issue of the scientific journal Cell, Israeli scientists from the Weizmann Institute of Science showed how a concoction of 11 strains of the most widely used probiotics tested on mice and on humans, were sometimes “less than beneficial,” according to a press release this week by the university.
In the human study, 25 healthy volunteers were divided into two groups, one of which was given the 11-strain probiotic preparation and one which took placebo pills for a period of four weeks. All of them underwent an upper endoscopy and a colonoscopy prior to starting the study, and three weeks into the four-week treatment they underwent a second round of the tests to assess their responses to the probiotics or placebo.
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