Probiotics

You may think about taking a probiotic supplement:

• to prevent side effects associated with antibiotics such as diarrhoea
• to help manage vaginal thrush or oral thrush
• to help manage irritable bowel disease
• to help manage eczema
• to prevent urinary tract infections
• alongside treatments for depression and anxiety.

Not all probiotic strains are created equally. We’re learning that specific strains of probiotic bacteria may have a role for a specific condition. One probiotic supplement may not help all conditions. 

Unlike medications, probiotics do not need to be approved by the medicines regulatory organisation in New Zealand called Medsafe. This means that manufacturers can sell supplements simply with "claims" of safety and effectiveness.

• Research on probiotics and health conditions are very much cutting edge science.
• Currently, researchers are undecided if probiotics are effective. Some say probiotics are effective; others believe they offer no benefit whatsoever.
• It also remains unclear which probiotics (or combination of probiotics) work to treat certain diseases.
• Despite these issues, some studies have shown positive results.
• Ongoing research is needed to confirm that probiotics are a safe and effective treatment for certain conditions.

Protection against diarrhoea (runny poos) caused by antibiotics

• Diarrhoea can happen in 5–30 out of every 100 people prescribed antibiotics and is more common with some antibiotics, such as penicillin-type antibiotics, cephalosporins and clindamycin. 
• When taken in sufficient amounts, probiotics appear to reduce the risk of diarrhoea caused by antibiotics, in children and adults. This protective ability has been associated with different types of antibiotic and different probiotics.¹
• If you are taking antibiotics, you need to choose a supplement that contains between 5 and 40 billion CFU/day of a probiotic organism in order to experience any benefit.
• Read more about diarrhoea.

Treatment of vaginal thrush (vaginal candidiasis)

• Vaginal thrush is a common yeast infection that affects most women at some stage. Common symptoms include pain, itching and vaginal discharge. Taking antibiotics and being post-menopausal can increase their risk of getting vaginal thrush. 
• Using a probiotic alongside antifungal treatment for thrush may help control the condition in the short term, but not necessarily for recurrent thrush.²
• Choose a lactobacillus containing probiotic. 
• Read more about vaginal thrush and treatment for vaginal thrush.

Protection against oral thrush

• Oral candidiasis (thrush) can be a common condition in elderly people, as a side effect of medication or an indication of overall health.
• Using a probiotic can reduce the risk of developing oral thrush.³

Probiotics for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

• The evidence to support the use of probiotics in irritable bowel syndrome is inconclusive (not clearly for or against).
• A 4 week trial of probiotics in the form of yoghurts or other fermented milk products can be considered, however, some of these products also contain ingredients that may worsen IBS symptoms, such as fructans, fructose or lactose.
• A recent systematic review has concluded that there is some evidence that probiotics, e.g. Lactobacillus, may improve the overall symptoms, abdominal pain, bloating and distension in patients with IBS. However, there is little or no evidence that they will improve other symptoms such as diarrhoea, constipation and flatus.⁴

Probiotics for eczema

• The role of probiotics in preventing eczema is inconclusive (not clearly for or against).
• Initial results of a study in New Zealand found that a probiotic involving a bacterium named L. rhamnosus HN001 reduced eczema cases by a half at the age of two years. The other probiotics studied had no effect on eczema.⁶  
• Read more about eczema.

Probiotics for urinary tract infections

• Urinary tract infections (UTIs) occur in kidneys, ureters, urethra or bladder. Probiotics are thought to work by preventing bacteria that cause infection from climbing up the urinary tract and causing infection. The currently available evidence shows that probiotics do no reduce the risk of UTI in adults and children.⁷
• Read more about UTIs.

Probiotics for mental health conditions

• This is cutting edge research, but indications are that certain probiotics may be useful in managing depression and anxiety.^8,9
• Bacteria found in our digestive system can help our gut talk to our brain. Many of the chemicals needed to regulate mood are produced in our gut.
• Read more about depression and anxiety.

Probiotics can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them.