“All probiotic products have the same effect”
There is a big difference between probiotic products. There must be clinical studies showing the effect of the probiotic, i.e. studies on humans. There are different strains of bacteria with different properties, resulting in different effects. Labels on many probiotic products state they contain “Lactobacillus acidophilus” without specifying whether it is Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5 or Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM – strains that differ as much as apples do from cats.
“Lactic acid bacteria are probiotics”
There are many different types of lactic acid bacteria, including Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Bifidobacterium animalis, Streptococcus thermophilus, and Lactobacillus reuteri. It is important to note, however, that not all of them have an effect. Lactic acid bacteria are divided into genus, species and strains. Different strains of bacteria have different characteristics, which, in turn, have different effects. Therefore, strain-level definitions are necessary for probiotics. Probiotics are beneficial microorganisms that have been shown to improve human health in clinical studies.
“Eating enough healthy foods will give me enough good bacteria for optimal gut health”
Consuming a variety of healthy foods is important for gut health. However, there are different and distinct advantages to taking probiotic supplements. A bacterium is considered a probiotic when its health benefits are proven in clinical studies.
“Probiotic capsules have a better effect than probiotic tablets or drops”
“Multi-strain products are more effective than single-strain probiotics”
A probiotic supplement’s effectiveness isn’t determined by the number of strains or bacteria it contains. It depends on which strains are present in the product. Some strains require a relatively small number of bacteria, while others require a larger amount. Similarly, most multi-strain products are not clinically tested to determine which strains work in conjunction with one another. A probiotic product’s health benefits need to be proven in human trials.
“Prebiotics and probiotics are the same thing”
As defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), probiotics are live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host. In contrast, prebiotics are nondigestible ingredients that stimulate the growth of bacteria in the digestive system.
“Regardless of which probiotic I take, it has the same effect”
There are many differences between different probiotic products. The health benefits of a probiotic need to be proven in clinical studies on humans. The effects of different probiotic strains on the human body will vary because of their different properties.