Probiotics

[Rosie29]

It has been suggested to me by my doctor that I eat yoghurts containing "good" live bacteria - probiotics as I understand it. There seems to be a lot of choice on the supermarket shelves. For example - Activia has Bifidus Acti Regularis, Rachel's biolive has Lactobacillus Bifidobacterium and lastly Actimel little yoghurt drinks have L.Casei. This is all a bit of a minefield for me. Can anyone enlighten me and, also if possible, suggest which is the most effective? Many thanks in advance.

[woofgang]

hmmm. effectiveness for what? There isn't a lot of hard research about any of them.
http://www.webmd.boots.com/vitamins-and-minerals/probiotics

another option is to get easy yo yoghurt powder and make your own. I use this when my IBS plays up and find it helpful.

[Rosie29]

I've recently had diverticulitis which is when doctor made suggestion. I've also had abdominal bloating and I think since taking Activia and Actimel that that has quietened down. Thanks woofgang

[pastafreak]

Any good,plain natural yogurt will be live-so will have beneficial bacteria. Make sure there is no added sugar,and it will be fine. Yeo Valley and Total Greek are both good.
Or..make your own...you can do it with a bit of bought yogurt,milk and a wide necked Thermos.

[Sqad]

I agree with woofy.............take your pick...........one of them have shown to be effective (in whatever they are supposed to be effective in).

[Sqad]

typo...should have typed "none of them."

[Rosie29]

Very much appreciate replies - thank you all.

[Old_Geezer]

Sounds to me the sort of question you might have asked your GP at the time of the suggestion.

You can, of course, take your probiotics in pill form if you like. I took a few after a course of antibiotics almost a year ago. I think they helped, but it's difficult to make a comparison since one can't both take them and not take them at the same time to check.

[Rosie29]

I did ask her Old Geezer - she mentioned Activia but I felt it was the first name which came to mind. She's not a nutritionist . Cheers.

[LoftyLottie]

Both my doctor and my dentist have given me advice to take probiotics and a lot of doctors and advising people to do so. Doctor advised me to take it for IBS/diverticulitis problems and Dentist to take alongside two courses of antibiotics recently.

I must admit it's a minefield, but I think the little actimel drinks or similar are the easiest to take. I don't always feel like eating yoghurt.

It seems that more doctors are now advising probiotics as being a good thing.

Well, Rosie, they may have some other advantages

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2141178/The-Probiotic-Yoghurt-effect-research-makes-mice-sexy-slim-fertile-gives-swagger.html

[Rosie29]

That's v helpful LoftyLottie with the added bonus that I could be slimmer, sexier and have nice shiny fur. Thanks v much

[missprim]

I was told once (by someone who works in a health shop) that taking a probiotic tablet is more effective than the stuff you get in yogurts and drinks. Don't know if that's true or not.

[jake-the-peg]

Did you ask your doctor how these wonderful bacteria get through your stomach which generally contains acid the strength of battery acid?


Sounds to me like you were getting a pat on the head and sent away

[LoftyLottie]

I have read too that the probiotics sold in health shops are better than in yoghurt, drinks, etc. and work out cheaper too. But I really enjoy those little drinks and they boost my calcium, as I can't stick milk!

Rosie ;o)

[woofgang]

jake the peg, many bacteria can and do travel through the stomach unharmed, eg c.difficile and norovirus, although of course the second is a virus.

I use easy yo greek yoghurt to settle my stomach when I get IBS, I don't know how it works but it does.

[Old_Geezer]

She recommends a course of action but isn't sure what it should be. Just says the first thing that comes to mind. Interesting advice there. I guess it means it isn't a big deal what one you go for.

[wildwood]

Good old plain yogurt with Acidophilus bifidus must be better than anything in pill or powder form as it is alive and ready to multiply immediate upon ingestion.

Forget the advertising hype, the yogurt acidophilus is the same as one of the probiotics in the human digestive tract. It can be depleted through wrong diet and sickness.

[Rosie29]

Interesting, Wildwood - thankyou.

[Old_Geezer]

?!? Surely they all have to be alive ready to multiply, or what's the point ?

[slaney]

The short answer to your question Rosie, is that your GP does not know because nobody knows; the research has not been done.
Nobody knows what bacteria are effective, what dose is needed, and which conditions benefit etc.
There are some papers which suggest probiotics may help in acute diarrhoea, and a few other conditions...
http://summaries.cochrane.org/CD003048/probiotics-for-treating-acute-infectious-diarrhoea
...but on the whole hard evidence is missing.
By the by, I sincerely hope your doctor is not a nutritionist; as Dara O' Briain says, a nutritionist is to a dietitian what a toothologist is to dentist.

The big companies like Danone already make millions selling their products , so why should they bother to do the research.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is tackling this problem so they may eventually be forced to back up their claims.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/oct/19/efsa-rules-probiotic-health-claims-unproven
http://www.nutraingredients.com/Regulation/EFSA-beats-off-more-Lactobacillus-probiotic-claims
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/danones-actimel-does-not-alleviate-diarrhea--efsa-2155887.html

[LazyGun]

I would agree entirely with Slaneys contribution. The evidence supporting the health benefits for a daily probiotic drink is slim to none. You are just as likely to benefit from a plain yoghurt or milk drink, and it is likely your pocket would benefit too :)

We had a discussion on this in one of the other forums, so i have included a link, for those interested.
http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Body-and-Soul/Health-and-Fitness/Question1205783.html