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.”

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Latest Probiotic News and Research

Peroxisomes identified as alternative heat producers in brown fat

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have identified a novel way brown fat - an energy-burning form of fat - can rev the body's metabolic engine, consuming cellular fuel and producing heat in a way that improves metabolic health.

17 Sep 2025

Ketogenic diets may lower migraine frequency and medication use

This narrative review argues that the migraine brain is hypometabolic, with converging evidence of mitochondrial dysfunction, impaired glucose handling, neuroinflammation, microbiome shifts, and obesity-related pathways. It proposes ketogenic diets as a plausible preventive strategy that may reduce monthly migraine days and medication use, while emphasizing the need for larger, rigorous randomized trials and careful clinical oversight.

14 Sep 2025

Study identifies a reductive uric acid degradation pathway in anaerobic bacteria

Uric acid builds up in the blood when the body cannot excrete it efficiently, leading to painful gout attacks, kidney stones, and other complications.

8 Sep 2025

Unlocking the secrets of oral bacteria to fight tooth decay

If Wenjun Zhang has her way, no one will ever have to brush or floss again.

5 Sep 2025

Daily probiotic reduces pouchitis risk after colon removal surgery but may not be cost-effective

A new UCLA Health study found that taking an 8-strain probiotic daily may reduce the risk of pouchitis, a common inflammatory condition that occurs after colon removal surgery for ulcerative colitis, but the treatment may not be worth the cost depending on a patient's likelihood of flare-ups.

3 Sep 2025

Beetroot juice lowers blood pressure in older adults by reshaping oral bacteria

Dietary nitrate from beetroot juice lowered blood pressure in older adults but not in younger participants in a double-blind crossover trial. The effect was linked to oral microbiome changes, including reduced Prevotella and higher plasma nitrite, without improvements in endothelial function

2 Sep 2025

Probiotic enhances cholesterol drug efficacy but raises safety concerns at high doses

A recent study published in Engineering has shed light on the complex interactions between probiotics and drugs, particularly focusing on the effects of the probiotic Lacticaseibacillus paracasei Zhang (LCZ) on the cholesterol-lowering drug lovastatin.

28 Aug 2025

Probiotics limit the spread of drug-resistant genes in preemies

Study reveals probiotics help preterm infants develop healthier gut microbiomes, reducing multidrug-resistant bacteria and enhancing neonatal care outcomes.

26 Aug 2025

Researchers discover why smoking tobacco helps people with ulcerative colitis

Researchers led by Hiroshi Ohno at the RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences (IMS) in Japan have discovered why smoking tobacco helps people suffering from ulcerative colitis, a chronic disease typified by inflammation of the large intestine.

25 Aug 2025

Scientists link gut microbes to stronger muscles and healthier aging

Researchers discovered that gut microbes, including Lactobacillus reuteri and L. johnsonii, can enhance muscle strength in aging mice. Co-administration of these strains boosted muscle mass, performance, and reduced inflammation, pointing to a possible microbiome-based strategy for muscle health.

19 Aug 2025

Amino acid metabolism shapes the tumor immune microenvironment and therapy response

The tumor microenvironment is not just a site of cancer growth—it is a high-stakes metabolic contest where tumor and immune cells vie for limited resources.

17 Aug 2025

Study shows probiotics help preterm babies fight antibiotic-resistant bacteria

Researchers found that probiotics help reduce antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the guts of very-low-birth-weight preterm infants, but cannot fully prevent resistance genes from spreading. Antibiotic use still promotes gene swapping, highlighting the limits of probiotics alone in neonatal care.

17 Aug 2025

Common food bacterium offers blueprint for safer and higher vitamin production

A new study reveals how Lactococcus lactis (L. lactis), a common food bacterium, regulates the production of a key precursor in vitamin K₂ (menaquinone) biosynthesis.

11 Aug 2025

Gut bacteria may connect pregnancy diet to childhood autism

Unhealthy maternal diets may alter gut microbes, impacting brain development and increasing autism risk in offspring. Study the microbiome's influence.

8 Aug 2025

Gut microbiota and short chain fatty acids influence bone health in postmenopausal osteoporosis

Postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP) is framed as a systemic bone disease driven by estrogen withdrawal, but emerging evidence positions gut dysbiosis and its fermentation products—short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs)—as equally influential regulators of skeletal fate.

6 Aug 2025

Tailored granola transforms gut bacteria and improves mood

A study reveals that custom granola can boost gut health and mood by increasing beneficial bacteria and short-chain fatty acids based on individual microbiota.

4 Aug 2025

Mapping microbiomes across the food system to restore health

Researchers have mapped how microbes underpin healthy food systems—and how we can stop their decline.

1 Aug 2025

Gut bacteria produce hormone-like proteins that regulate weight and blood sugar

Our intestines are home to trillions of microorganisms that produce substances capable of regulating all the body's organs via the bloodstream and the gut's nervous system.

31 Jul 2025

Gut microbial metabolites restore hormone-producing cells in obesity

New research from scientists at the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine reveals that certain gut microbial byproducts may hold promise as a novel therapy for obesity-associated metabolic complications by restoring critical hormone-producing cells in the intestine.

29 Jul 2025

Probiotic bacteria found to reshape cell behavior in vitro

This study reveals how probiotic bacteria directly influence brain cell function, highlighting gut-brain communication and potential therapeutic applications.

23 Jul 2025