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posted by martyb on Wednesday January 27 2016, @03:36PM   Printer-friendly
from the avoid-the-amateur-biotics dept.

The "good bacteria," or probiotics, that fill the pomegranate drink are everywhere these days, in pills and powders marketed as super supplements. Probiotics are said to improve digestive and immune health. They're touted as potential treatments for conditions ranging from inflammatory bowel disease to eczema to tooth decay. Some marketing campaigns even hint that they can prevent the flu.

Scientific evidence, however, does not necessarily support those claims.

Studies in rodents and small groups of humans point to possible health benefits of consuming probiotics. But there have been only a few large human trials — in large part because Food and Drug Administration rules have dissuaded food companies and federally funded researchers from conducting the types of studies that could confirm, or refute, the proposed benefits of consuming "good" microbes.

http://www.statnews.com/2016/01/21/probiotics-shaky-science/


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  • (Score: 3, Informative) by Whoever on Thursday January 28 2016, @03:51AM

    by Whoever (4524) on Thursday January 28 2016, @03:51AM (#295753) Journal

    Actually, it's no secret at all. In fact, your doctor has been giving you this advice for decades.

    Unfortunately, there isn't evidence that all of that advice is actually useful. It's based on possibly flawed assumptions. The medical profession has a horrible reputation making assumptions and pushing out the information as though it was based on real science. Note that I realize that there is plenty of real science that justifies most medical advice, but there is also information that is not based on science.

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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 28 2016, @04:27AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 28 2016, @04:27AM (#295769)

    Actually, it's no secret at all. In fact, your doctor has been giving you this advice for decades.

    Unfortunately, there isn't evidence that all of that advice is actually useful. It's based on possibly flawed assumptions.

    Really? What "possibly flawed assumptions" might those be? Please tell me more. I am genuinely curious (and sceptical).