Probiotic

Probiotics are live microorganisms thought to be healthy for the host organism. According to the currently adopted definition by FAO/WHO, probiotics are: "Live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host".

What are Probiotics?

Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts that are thought to be beneficial in preventing several health conditions. They are usually consumed as supplements or yoghurts and are also referred to as “good bacteria.”

Probiotic Strains

Probiotic Research

Probiotic Benefits

Probiotic Side Effects

Probiotics History

Friendly bacteria: do we really need to eat probiotic yogurts?

Kefir Health Benefits

Can Probiotics Ever Be Harmful to Human Health?

Latest Probiotic News and Research

Study finds alterations in the gut microbiome of young adult binge drinkers

Youth binge drinkers show alterations in the gut microbiome, a new study finds.

2 Feb 2023

Study shows improved host health by modulating intestinal microbiota

Researchers presented intestinal microbiota modulation as a probable therapeutic option for diseases such as Crohn’s disease (CD).

26 Jan 2023

Probiotic diminishes S. aureus bacterial colonization, Phase 2 trial shows

A promising approach to control Staphylococcus aureus bacterial colonization in people-;using a probiotic instead of antibiotics-;was safe and highly effective in a Phase 2 clinical trial.

17 Jan 2023

Study directly links gut leakage with retinopathy severity in people with Type 1 diabetes

The leading cause of blindness in American adults is diabetic retinopathy, progressive damage to blood vessels in the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye.

14 Jan 2023

Valuable tool reveals the connections between gut microbes and the brain

In the past decade, researchers have begun to appreciate the importance of a two-way communication that occurs between microbes in the gastrointestinal tract and the brain, known as the gut–brain axis.

13 Jan 2023

Study assesses microbiome of male genital mucosa

A new study in the journal Microorganisms aimed to identify and analyze studies on the composition of the microbial community on different parts of the healthy and diseased male genital mucosa.

4 Jan 2023

How could probiotics be used in the management of gingivitis and periodontitis?

New research explores how probiotic-based therapy in conjunction with established treatment regimens can be an effective approach for combating gingivitis and periodontitis.

28 Dec 2022

Using the gut microbiome to understand and treat respiratory diseases

Researchers review the role of the gut microbiome in certain respiratory diseases.

22 Dec 2022

Probiotic bacterium prevents neurodegeneration in animal model of ALS

A probiotic bacterium called Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus HA-114 prevents neurodegeneration in the C. elegans worm, an animal model used to study amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

20 Dec 2022

What is the role of the pediatric gut microbiome in COVID-19?

Recently, scientists have reviewed the available evidence on the gut microbiome in children with COVID-19 and published it in Microorganisms.

15 Dec 2022

Specific bacteria in the bladder may indicate who is more prone to recurrent UTIs

Researchers at The University of Texas at Dallas have identified specific bacteria in the bladder that may indicate which postmenopausal women are more susceptible to recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs), and they found that estrogen may play a role in reducing that susceptibility.

13 Dec 2022

Study implicates gut microbiome health in Parkinson's disease

A new study published in the journal Nature Communications discusses the links between this condition that affects the brain and changes in the gut microbiome that may predate brain changes.

1 Dec 2022

Does breast milk influence infants' intestinal microbiota?

A large number of health-related benefits of probiotics have led to the development of a new discipline called probiogenomics, which focuses on the molecular mechanisms of probiotic activities. According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the next-generation probiotics satisfy the scope of "live biotherapeutic products" (LBPs), which could be used to develop effective therapeutics for various diseases.

28 Nov 2022

Acute COVID-19 infection disrupts a healthy balance between good and bad gut microbes

In an intensive look at the effects of the virus causing COVID-19 on patients' microbiome – the collection of microorganisms that live in and on the human body – Rutgers scientists found that acute infection disrupts a healthy balance between good and bad microbes in the gut, especially with antibiotic treatment.

28 Nov 2022