Side Effects of Probiotic Supplements

Probiotics seem to be everywhere, in your child's drinking straw, in yogurt and in supplements. The World Health Organization and the Food and Health Organization of the United Nations define probiotics as live micro-organisms that, when given in proper amounts, will be beneficial to the host. Micro-organisms are small living organisms such as yeast, bacteria and viruses that can only be seen under a microscope. They are similar to bacteria found in your stomach.

History

• Some probiotics can be dated back to ancient times. Many cultures made fermented products and cultured milk products. Some foods that contain probiotics are yogurt, miso, soy and fermented and unfermented milk.

Side Effects

• Probiotic supplements can have mild to severe side effects. According to MedicineNet.com, a WebMD site, most side effects pertain to the stomach, including gas and bloating. A person who has underlying health problems taking probiotic supplements could suffer an infection and may need medical attention or antibiotics to clear up. Probiotic supplements also can cause unhealthy metabolic activities, too much stimulation of the immune system or gene transfer, which is the insertion of genetic material into a cell.

Expert Insight

• Nutritionist Christine Avanti feels that if you experience a problem while taking probiotic supplements, you should listen to your body and stop taking them. She feels that many probiotic supplements don't survive well and won't do any good. By the time probiotic supplements are digested, the organisms die before they even hit the digestive tract, making it hard to determine whether they did any good. Avanti also suggests eating probiotic foods, such as bananas. There are many foods with live micro-organisms, such as yogurt, that have been used for many years without any health concerns.

Considerations

• Kathleen Zelman, a WebMD expert, warns buyers when purchasing probiotic supplements that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not regulate the production of dietary supplements. When purchasing yogurt for probiotics, only yogurts with labels stating that they contain live and active cultures contain probiotics. Yogurt doesn't have any negative side effects and is a safe and healthy way to add probiotics into your diet.

Conclusion

• There have not been proper studies done to determine side effects of probiotic supplements. MedicineNet feels there needs to be more scientific knowledge of probiotic supplements regarding their benefits and proper use. It isn't a good idea to allow young children or elderly adults to ingest probiotic supplements due to lower immune systems.