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<\/p>\nReviewed by Dietitian Kelly Plowe, M.S., RD<\/p>\n
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Getty Images. EatingWell design.<\/p>\n
Key Points<\/p>\n
Probiotics might help prevent C. diff after antibiotics or if you develop pouchitis after surgery .<\/p>\n
A high-fiber diet that includes fermented foods creates a strong foundation for gut health.<\/p>\n
Talk with a healthcare provider if you have concerns like bloating, weight loss or pain.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s no shortage of claims that probiotic supplements are the cure to your digestive troubles\u2014but do these pricey pills actually deliver? And are they even necessary? To help separate fact from fiction, we spoke with leading gastroenterologist Trisha Pasricha, MD<\/a>. What she told us might challenge some of your existing assumptions about probiotics. What we learned is that while probiotic supplements can be helpful in a few scenarios, they\u2019re not a magic bullet and most people probably don\u2019t even need them.<\/p>\n \u201cProbiotics are a multibillion-dollar industry, but for many people, they\u2019re not the magic fix they\u2019re marketed to be,\u201d Pasricha says. While there\u2019s little evidence for using probiotics in most scenarios, there is strong evidence that a fiber-rich diet supports the microbiome<\/a> and improves overall gut functioning. \u201cIf you want to invest in your gut, that\u2019s where I\u2019d start,\u201d Pasricha says.<\/p>\n Learn more about the situations when probiotics may be helpful<\/a> and why a gut-friendly diet is often more effective.<\/p>\n When a Probiotic Supplement Might Be Helpful<\/p>\n Most people do not need to take a probiotic supplement, Pasricha tells us. In fact, the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) doesn\u2019t recommend taking probiotics for most digestive issues because there\u2019s simply not enough clinical evidence.<\/p>\n There is a lot of existing research on probiotics, but the research methods, probiotic strains, doses, patient populations and research findings vary so widely from one study to another that it\u2019s hard to draw any broad conclusions about who might benefit, Pasricha says.<\/p>\n Among adults, there are two scenarios in which probiotics may be helpful, and clinical guidance supports their use, Pasricha says.<\/p>\n To Prevent C. difficile Infection While Taking Antibiotics<\/p>\n Certain probiotics may help lower the risk of a bacterial infection called Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) that can develop while taking antibiotics, research shows. A healthy microbiome<\/a> can help protect against infections like C. diff, but taking antibiotics can disrupt your microbiome over the next few months, making you more susceptible to infections like C. diff.<\/p>\n But don\u2019t assume any probiotics will be effective here. Researchers recommend specific probiotic strains and combinations<\/a> of strains for preventing C. diff, including S boulardii, the 2-strain combination of L acidophilus CL1285 and L casei LBC80R; and a few other strain combinations.<\/p>\n If You Have Pouchitis<\/p>\n For people with inflammatory bowel disease who have had bowel surgery and develop a complication called pouchitis, probiotics may be effective. In this scenario, research shows that a specific combination of 8 different probiotic strains (L paracasei subsp paracasei, L plantarum, L acidophilus, L delbrueckii subsp bulgaricus, B longum subsp longum, B breve, B longum subsp infantis, and S salivarius subsp thermophilus) may be helpful.<\/p>\n For Other Scenarios, Probiotics Probably Aren\u2019t Necessary<\/p>\n \u201cSome individuals report feeling better on a probiotic, and personal experience matters,\u201d Pasricha says. \u201cBut more often, I see patients who have spent hundreds of dollars trying supplements without addressing the underlying drivers of their symptoms, such as stool form, fiber intake, motility or stress.\u201d<\/p>\n The AGA says probiotics should be recommended only if there is a clear, documented benefit. They point out that there isn\u2019t enough evidence to support taking probiotics to treat C. difficile infection, ulcerative colitis, Crohn\u2019s disease or IBS.<\/p>\n All the hype around probiotics\u2014especially when it comes to detoxing claims\u2014can create unnecessary fear and may even distract people from concerns that need medical attention, Pasricha tells us.<\/p>\n \u201cIf someone has persistent symptoms like bloating<\/a>, pain, weight loss or bleeding, a probiotic shouldn\u2019t replace proper medical evaluation,\u201d Pasricha says. \u201cSupplements can create a false sense of action while the real issue goes unaddressed.\u201d<\/p>\n Why Eating a Nutritious Diet Is Usually A Better Option<\/p>\n