Probiotic

Probiotics are live microorganisms thought to be healthy for the host organism. According to the currently adopted definition by FAO/WHO, probiotics are: "Live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host".

What are Probiotics?

Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts that are thought to be beneficial in preventing several health conditions. They are usually consumed as supplements or yoghurts and are also referred to as “good bacteria.”

Probiotic Strains

Probiotic Research

Probiotic Benefits

Probiotic Side Effects

Probiotics History

Friendly bacteria: do we really need to eat probiotic yogurts?

Kefir Health Benefits

Can Probiotics Ever Be Harmful to Human Health?

Latest Probiotic News and Research

Early gut microbiota linked to food sensitivities in infants

A study led by Hiroshi Ohno at the RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences (IMS) recently showed that certain gut bacteria found in one-month-old infants are associated with food sensitivities and the development of food allergies, particularly to eggs, while other types of bacteria are not.

21 Feb 2025

Milk boosts gut-friendly bacteria while cheese alters microbiome balance, study reveals

Researchers found that dairy consumption influences gut microbiota composition, with milk promoting beneficial bacteria and cheese altering microbial diversity in distinct ways.

18 Feb 2025

Do probiotics enhance sports performance?

Researchers found that probiotics may enhance endurance, recovery, and immune function in athletes, but the evidence for strength and power performance remains limited.

17 Feb 2025

Gut microbes may hold the key to easing anxiety

Could the key to easing anxiety be hidden in our gut? Scientists from Duke-NUS Medical School and the National Neuroscience Institute have discovered a crucial connection between gut microbes and anxiety-related behavior.

6 Feb 2025

Depression linked to specific changes in eating preferences

Depression affects 280 million people worldwide. The mental illness has been proven to lead to changes in eating behavior.

6 Feb 2025

Microbes in your gut could determine cancer treatment outcomes

Researchers reveal that gut microbiota influence the effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in cancer treatment, with specific bacterial strains enhancing or inhibiting anti-tumor immunity.

4 Feb 2025

Gut-derived sugars: A potential game-changer for weight management and diabetes

Gut bacteria-produced exopolysaccharides (EPS) help regulate metabolism by modulating gut microbiota, promoting SCFA production, and improving glucose homeostasis. S. salivarius, a key EPS producer, shows potential for obesity and diabetes intervention.

30 Jan 2025

Researchers propose personalized probiotic therapies for inflammatory diseases

A new approach to treating inflammatory diseases through personalized probiotic therapies – also known as precision medicine – has been proposed by researchers at the University of Surrey.

29 Jan 2025

How lifestyle-based interventions help manage PCOS

Studies indicate that lifestyle modifications can alleviate PCOS symptoms, improving insulin resistance and hormonal balance through diet and physical activity.

21 Jan 2025

Hebrew SeniorLife launches trial to explore probiotics and prebiotics for bone health

Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research investigators at Hebrew SeniorLife have launched a large clinical food trial to test whether a combination of probiotics and prebiotics (BondiaÒ or SBD111) developed by Solarea Bio will help manage bone health in women aged 60 years and above.

10 Jan 2025

Can probiotics restore antibiotic-perturbed microbiota?

Probiotics can reduce antibiotic-associated diarrhea but don't fully restore gut microbiota. Further studies are essential to evaluate their long-term effects.

19 Dec 2024

Could microalgae fermentation create the superfoods of the future?

Microalgae fermentation unlocks sustainable and nutritious food production, offering bioactive peptides with antidiabetic properties but faces challenges in consumer acceptance.

18 Dec 2024

Scientists examine probiotics role in restoring gut microbiota after antibiotics

Antibiotics are important clinical tools for treating bacterial infections, yet we recognize that an important side effect of antibiotic use is disruption of the microbial community living in the human gut.

17 Dec 2024

New study links specific E. coli strains to higher cancer incidence rates

Higher rates of certain cancers in countries, such as the UK, may be linked to two particular strains of bacteria.

6 Dec 2024

Woman’s saliva could offer clues to stress and mental health during pregnancy

New research out of Michigan State University found that the number and type of microbes present in the saliva of pregnant women differ according to whether they are experiencing life stress and symptoms of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

27 Nov 2024

Probiotics shown to mitigate effects of toxic fire-retardant chemicals

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers, or PBDEs, are fire-retardant chemicals that are found everywhere - upholstery, carpets, curtains, electronics, and even infant products.

23 Nov 2024

Fermented kimchi may help combat obesity by regulating gut microbiota

Kimchi consumption significantly reduces body fat and enhances metabolic indicators in overweight individuals, highlighting its role in obesity management.

22 Nov 2024

Pregnancy stress and mental health affect the oral microbiome

The number and type of microbes present in the saliva of pregnant women differ according to whether they are experiencing life stress and symptoms of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), finds a study published in the open access journal BMJ Mental Health.

20 Nov 2024

Can probiotics improve insulin resistance in women with PCOS?

The review highlights the role of probiotics and synbiotics in enhancing insulin sensitivity and hormonal balance in PCOS, suggesting new avenues for treatment.

20 Nov 2024

Western diet accelerates endometriosis growth and disrupts gut health

This study found that a Western diet doubles the growth of endometriotic lesions in mice and depletes the gut microbiome's beneficial bacterium, Akkermansia muciniphila, which may exacerbate endometriosis symptoms.

12 Nov 2024