SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
Probiotics labelled 'quite useless' (AMP link)
A group of scientists in Israel claim foods that are packed with good bacteria - called probiotics - are almost useless.
[...] The team at the Weizmann Institute of Science made their own probiotic cocktail using 11 common good bacteria including strains of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria. It was given to 25 healthy volunteers for a month. They were then sedated and samples were surgically taken from multiple places in the stomach and small and large intestines.
The researchers were looking to see where bacteria successfully colonised and whether they led to any changes in the activity of the gut. The results in the journal Cell [open, DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2018.08.041], showed in half of cases the good bacteria went in the mouth and straight out the other end. In the rest, they lingered briefly before being crowded out by our existing microbes.
[...] The research group also looked at the impact of probiotics after a course of antibiotics, which wipe out both good and bad bacteria. Their trial on 46 people, also in the journal Cell [open, DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2018.08.047], showed it led to delays in the normal healthy bacteria re-establishing themselves.
Dr Elinav added: "Contrary to the current dogma that probiotics are harmless and benefit everyone, these results reveal a new potential adverse side effect of probiotic use with antibiotics that might even bring long-term consequences."
(Score: 3, Interesting) by rob_on_earth on Friday September 07 2018, @09:53AM (5 children)
The problem with this and other similar research is it is a percentage game.
My guess is that somewhere there is at least 1 person that has the matching gut flora that would benefit probiotics. But I freely accept that that 1 person/s may not always be in that situation.
So like vitamin supplements, they are mostly harmless to take, knowing they will ultimately have little to no positive affect on large percentage of the population.
What this research will hopeful do is stop false advertising around probiotics being a cure-all for all.
(Score: -1, Flamebait) by Anonymous Coward on Friday September 07 2018, @11:11AM (3 children)
"What this research will hopeful do is stop false advertising"
The research was done in israel, which makes it suspect. So don't jump to conclusions.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday September 07 2018, @12:40PM (2 children)
Right, it would be so much less suspect if it were done in the US under the watchful eye of Big Pharma. (Not that they don't usually have their eye on other countries too)
(Score: 2) by bzipitidoo on Friday September 07 2018, @02:13PM
Yeah, the profit motive makes a lot of things suspect. This probiotics craze is just the latest in a long list of health fads. Castor oil back in the day, vitamin supplements and homeopathy and anti-vaxxer craziness today.
(Score: 2) by Thexalon on Friday September 07 2018, @02:14PM
Everyone knows all the best research is done in Soviet Russia [youtube.com].
The only thing that stops a bad guy with a compiler is a good guy with a compiler.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by JoeMerchant on Friday September 07 2018, @02:02PM
What I hope this research does not do is start to derail the treatment of colitis and similar conditions with gut flora diagnosis and adjustment. 20 years ago the only answer even considered by many "respected" physicians was removal of the affected gut, often resulting in a colostomy bag, even in young patients. To go that route without even making a solid effort at gut flora restoration, by whatever methods, is a major pinnacle of Hippocratic violation, IMO.
But, then, M.D.s don't take the Hippocratic oath anymore, do they?
🌻🌻 [google.com]