found modest benefits for some subgroups of CFS patients with
probiotics. Like all other treatments to date they do not reverse or
"cure" the disease.
Is Yogurt Good for You? The pros and cons of probiotics
By Amanda Schaffer
Wednesday, July 20, 2011, at 7:06 AM ET
What's so pro about probiotics? Good bacteria are having their
moment=97in yogurt, pizza, ice cream, even mattresses and aftershave.
Dannon says that its probiotic yogurt Activia "helps regulate your
digestive system," while its yogurt drink DanActive helps "strengthen
your body's defenses." Jala asserts that its bacterially dosed bars
have "all the benefits of probiotics," again citing healthy digestion
and an immune boost. Over at Naked, which boasts baked-in,
heat-resistant bacteria, one of its co-founders blogs about how humans
"came barefoot, naked and covered in bugs," even conjuring a woman
squatting in childbirth until her newborn lands in some all-natural
maternal feces. Then there are probiotic products purporting to fight
bed bugs or alleviate the symptoms of autism.
No wonder the backlash is roiling. The Federal Trade Commission has
gone after Dannon for overplaying the benefits of its probiotics. (The
company reached a settlement though it did not concede any
wrongdoing.) An army of lawyers has also attacked for advertising that
its Yoplus-brand yogurt provides digestive health benefits. They argue
that these claims lack scientific support and are "reasonably likely
to mislead the public." The New York Times recently pilloried "foods
with benefits," including probiotics, as well, questioning many of the
rosy health claims made on their behalf. Even Stephen Colbert quipped
last week about yogurt "supposedly full of good bacteria," saying,
"Don't trust 'em. I always throw in a spoonful of Purell first."
But we shouldn't be too quick to throw the good bacteria out with the
bad. Probiotics are, by definition, "live microorganisms which when
administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host."
But the diversity of these organisms=97and the scope of their possible
benefits=97is much more extensive and complex than a quick stroll
through the grocery store might suggest. Even different strains of a
well-known genus like Lactobacillus can have different effects on the
body, which makes careful research=97and precise
communication=97critically important. Academic work suggests, for
instance, that certain strains of probiotics may help to address a
range of gastrointestinal ills, especially diarrhea.
Alluring, if nascent, work also looks at different bugs' effects on
the immune system, including their potential to fend off common
infections or prevent allergic conditions in babies. Some papers speak
to preventing sickness in healthy people. Others focus on treating
disease. The problem isn't with any of this budding science. It's with
marketing claims that exaggerate or are too vague to offer real
guidance. (What does it even mean to "balance" digestion?) Beyond the
fuzzy ad-speak of functional foods, it's time to pin down the real
potential of these critters, attending to questions of safety and
dosage and taking them seriously as medicine.
The literature on probiotics holds particular promise when it comes to
the gut. Strong evidence suggests that several strains can help to
treat or prevent diarrhea associated with viral infection or
antibiotics. Less established, though fascinating, is the possibility
that some may help relieve irritable bowel syndrome or treat disease
linked to the superbug Clostridium difficile. The hope is that when
our gut's ecosystem is thrown out of whack, specific probiotics might
help rejigger the balance, allowing us to tend our own buggy gardens.
What about the immune system? Good bacteria may tweak the balance of
immune cells or cause more cells to become activated, at least
temporarily. In theory, this might help to fend off disease.
The full article can be read here: http://www.slate.com/id/2299545/pagenum/=
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