The health benefits of probiotics

Abstract

Health benefits imparted by probiotic bacteria are strain-specific and not species- or genus- specific. The strains Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (Valio), Saccharomyces boulardii (Biocodex), Lactobacillus paracasei Shirota (Yakult), and Bifidobacterium BB12 (Chr Hansen), have the strongest human health efficacy data, against some or all of: lactose intolerance; rotaviral diarrhoea; antibiotic-associated diarrhoea and the associated Clostridium difficile diarrhoea; and some other bacterial diarrhoeas and infections. Traveller's diarrhoea may also be alleviated in some people by Lactobacillus GG. It is not yet possible to relate probiotic intake to prevention of bowel cancer in humans. However, there is stronger evidence for effects on bladder cancer in the Japanese population using the Shirota strain. Probiotics may also help in atopic eczema, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, Helicobacter pylori infections, and possibly in arthritic conditions.