Potentialissues with probiotic yoghurts and food supplements

If you're considering trying probiotics, there are a few issues you need to be aware of.

Firstly, probiotics are generally classed as food rather than medicine, which means they don't undergo the rigorous testing that medicines do.

Because of the way probiotics are regulated, we cant always be sure that:

  • the product actually contains the bacteria stated on the food label
  • the product contains enough bacteria to have an effect
  • the bacteria are able to survive long enough to reach your gut

It's also worth noting that there are many different types of probiotics that may have different effects on the body, and little is known about which types are best. Don't assume the beneficial effects seen with one type are the same as other similar types or will be repeated if used for another purpose.

Lastly, there's likely to be a huge difference between the pharmaceutical-grade probiotics that show promise in clinical trials and the yoghurts and supplements sold in shops.

Content supplied by the NHS Website

Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018