According to some surveys, approximately four million Americans take probiotics, which are available as pills, powders, foods and drinks. Probiotics are a huge industry — at least a $40 billion dollar one, according to Zion Market Research — and popular brands sell for 35 cents to $1 a dose, with a shelf life of several months.
Proponents argue that they improve the composition of the gut microbiome, which is involved in many aspects of health including immunity, metabolism and mood.
Framed this way, probiotics may seem like a no-brainer. But before you reach for your wallet, keep in mind that while many scientists and doctors believe that probiotics have promise, they also say that a lot of products on the market don’t live up to the hype.
" .. used DNA analysis to compare the bacterial strains listed on the labels of 16 commercially available probiotics with what the products actually had in them.
The researchers found that only one of the 16 products contained the strains listed on the label; some had entirely different bacterial species."
The truth of the matter is that many commercial products are not what they claim to be, are of insufficient quantity to be of much use, if any value at all and tend to be expensive. Then there is the issue of just how many of the bacteria are still alive by the time you receive the product.Excess temperature as might be encountered in delivery vehicles during the summer could potentially kill all or most of the bacteria. Alternatives such as kefir with custom bacterial blends that you make yourself may be a better option, because then you know exactly what is in it and how fresh it is.
A major drawback to many probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics is that the researchers tend to test bacteria that are not readily available, but are patentable, so many people will never be able to benefit from a study that may show positive results in humans.
Not all studies are lacking though and every now and again a good study using common gut bacteria at dosing that is actually capable of altering the gut biome comes along and is able to show clearly positive results such as this one :
Unfortunately, this impressive study should have had a follow up study or two or three to help confirm the benefits and also in the follow up studies, a group of patients who are not at such a very advanced stage of disease progression might be an option to consider rather than patients who may be past the point of no return as well as making the study longer than 12 weeks to determine if the benefits are cumulative because if the benefits turn out to be cumulative, this could be a game changer in the field of dementia and AD at a minimum!
Some key aspects to be considered : Like 'what % of the live bacteria in the probiotic can survive the acid environment in the stomach and get to the small intestine ' ; An assorted mix of probiotic bacteria are also key towards getting multiple benefits. Dosage and time of ingestion is another variable; so is the prebiotics that one takes to provide the ideal environment for probiotic bacteria to thrive. Still a lot more to know about the gut-brain axis and microbiome to design that 'perfect dose' of probiotic. A lot of research is being done in Europe and hardly any in USA - no surprise !!
The short of it is: Evidence for probiotics alleviating depressive symptoms...probiotic strains used were Lactobacillus casei and Bifidobacterium bifidum L. casei and longum. The duration of treatment 8 weeks to 6 months.
Measured urinary free cortisol (UFC) levels [47 was expanded upon.
Those at higher genetic risk for social anxiety (indexed by high neuroticism) showed fewer social anxiety symptoms when they consumed more fermented foods [50].
Results found a significant improvement on cognitive fatigue measures in those treated with the probiotic-fermented milk.
Very thorough study showing probiotics have lots of benefits to body including cortisol levels!!
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