Much like a real city, your\u00a0gut\u00a0microbiome is always\u00a0active. While factors like your genetics shape your microbiome, so do lifestyle choices,\u00a0ranging from diet to where you live.\u00a0Instead of people, the residents of your gut microbiome are microorganisms like bacteria,\u00a0fungi\u00a0and\u00a0viruses.\u00a0Most\u00a0of these microorganisms are harmless and\u00a0help your body function. Among these bacteria are probiotics,\u00a0Ajami\u00a0explains.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can consider probiotics as the good residents,\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0says.<\/p>\n
Probiotics help support your microbiome, which plays a central role in your overall health. A balanced microbiome influences not only digestion, but also the function of the immune system, organs and tissues throughout the body. Because of these wide-ranging effects, changes in the microbiome have been linked to chronic diseases, including cancer. At\u00a0PRIME-TR,\u00a0researchers are studying how\u00a0the\u00a0microbiome influences cancer risk\u00a0and\u00a0how it affects an individual\u2019s response to cancer treatments, including\u00a0immunotherapy<\/a>.<\/p>\n Types of probiotic supplements<\/p>\n While\u00a0probiotics in the gut are shaped by diet and lifestyle, many people turn to supplements as an alternative way to influence their microbiome.\u00a0With so many options available,\u00a0the\u00a0world of probiotic supplements can seem\u00a0almost as\u00a0densely\u00a0populated as the microbiome\u00a0itself.<\/p>\n \u201cProbiotic supplements are really different depending on if you’re just grabbing an over-the-counter one off the shelf at the drug store for no reason versus\u00a0if your\u00a0doctor recommends that you take a certain probiotic for a certain condition,\u201d says Daniel-MacDougall, a nutritional epidemiologist who studies diet and the microbiome.<\/p>\n Within the category of probiotic supplements,\u00a0you’ll\u00a0find over-the-counter\u00a0supplements\u00a0and\u00a0live biotherapeutics.\u00a0Here\u2019s\u00a0a closer look at the differences between these groups:<\/p>\n Over-the-counter probiotic supplements:<\/p>\n Live biotherapeutics:<\/p>\n Are\u00a0designed for medical use It\u2019s\u00a0better to get probiotics from food, not supplements\u00a0\u2014\u00a0here’s\u00a0why<\/p>\n Both experts recommend that healthy individuals get probiotics from foods rather than over-the-counter supplements.<\/p>\n Examples of probiotic foods include:<\/p>\n Yogurt \u201cWe do not recommend\u00a0that\u00a0patients or really anyone go and find solutions at the supplement aisle of stores,\u201d Ajami says. \u201cYou can get what you need through whole foods.\u201d<\/p>\n Here are some reasons why.<\/p>\n It’s\u00a0hard to know exactly what\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0getting in a supplement<\/p>\n Supplement quality and ingredients can vary\u00a0greatly from\u00a0product to product.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat you find in the aisles of stores are products that are, for the most part, not regulated. And that means it’s very hard to tell if what’s on the label is actually what’s in the bottle,\u201d Ajami says. \u201cIt’s very hard to tell that the claims made in those labels are actually supported by science and rigorous clinical trials.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel-MacDougall shares Ajami\u2019s concern about over-the-counter probiotic supplements. These\u00a0supplements\u00a0may\u00a0have limitations,\u00a0including whether they\u00a0contain\u00a0live bacteria, the\u00a0variety\u00a0of probiotics they\u00a0contain\u00a0and\u00a0their ability to reach the gut\u00a0where they can be used, she notes.<\/p>\n Taking\u00a0unnecessary probiotic supplements can do more harm than good<\/p>\n Everyone\u2019s\u00a0microbiome\u00a0is different and exists in a delicate balance.\u00a0A\u00a0probiotic supplement that helps one person might not help\u00a0you.<\/p>\n \u201cJust like you wouldn\u2019t take a medication that you don’t need or that is not designed for your issue, probiotics can work the same way,\u201d Daniel-MacDougall says.<\/p>\n On the\u00a0flip side, probiotic supplements could disrupt or displace some of the\u00a0good bacteria\u00a0you already have, she notes. This could lead to an upset stomach, digestive problems or feeling bloated.<\/p>\n \u201cTaking some mix of bacteria without knowing what you need or what effect\u00a0it’s\u00a0going to have can be risky. You may have no effect, you may have GI side effects, or it could potentially have a benefit. You just\u00a0don’t\u00a0know,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n Probiotic foods\u00a0provide\u00a0additional\u00a0nutrients<\/p>\n When you eat probiotic foods, you\u00a0aren\u2019t\u00a0only getting probiotics.\u00a0You\u2019re\u00a0also getting a variety of other nutrients.<\/p>\n So, while an over-the-counter probiotic supplement may contain some probiotics, yogurt offers probiotics\u00a0plus\u00a0fatty acids and amino acids (proteins). All of these nutrients work together to stimulate your microbiome, MacDougall explains.<\/p>\n \u201cDietary supplements are almost never an effective replacement for food,\u201d\u00a0she says.<\/p>\n What cancer patients should know about probiotic supplements<\/p>\n Our experts\u00a0don’t\u00a0recommend taking over-the-counter probiotics during\u00a0cancer treatment<\/a>.<\/p>\n While over-the-counter probiotic supplements may seem like\u00a0an easy way\u00a0to help your body respond to cancer treatment, they can have the opposite effect. This is because the probiotics in over-the-counter supplements may compete with the bacteria that already live in your body, Ajami says.<\/p>\n For example, in a\u00a02021 study<\/a>, melanoma patients on\u00a0immune checkpoint inhibitors<\/a>\u00a0who ate low-fiber diets and took over-the-counter probiotic supplements had worse outcomes than patients who ate enough fiber and\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0take over-the-counter probiotic supplements.<\/p>\n It\u2019s\u00a0well known that microbiome composition can\u00a0impact\u00a0how your body responds to cancer treatment. However,\u00a0Ajami\u00a0notes the\u00a0microbiome\u00a0modulation\u00a0used\u00a0at\u00a0MD Anderson\u00a0is\u00a0very different\u00a0than\u00a0taking an over-the-counter probiotic supplement.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is not DIY. It is under clinical supervision, under trials, under the supervision and the oversight of clinical teams,\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0says.<\/p>\n When to talk to your doctor about probiotic supplements<\/p>\n Challenges to your gut microbiome \u2014 think after antibiotics,\u00a0bowel prep<\/a>\u00a0or foodborne illness \u2014 can cause gastrointestinal issues and may lead you to feel that you need a probiotic supplement, Daniel-MacDougall says.<\/p>\n In these cases,\u00a0talk to\u00a0your doctor\u00a0for personalized advice on\u00a0how to\u00a0proceed.<\/p>\n \u201cPhysicians who give certain antibiotics may have a better understanding of how this works for their patients,\u201d she says. \u201cIt’s not as precise and personalized yet as we’d all like it to be, but there is some level of clinical knowledge.\u201d<\/p>\n Additionally, in some cases, probiotics from food or supplements may help individuals with irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease or other health problems. But they also could potentially cause harm if used improperly or in combination with other medications.<\/p>\n Ultimately, trying to solve\u00a0unknown\u00a0gut problems with a probiotic supplement could feed the bad bacteria in your gut and make the problem worse.\u00a0That’s\u00a0why\u00a0it’s\u00a0important to\u00a0address\u00a0underlying issues\u00a0before adding supplements, Daniel-MacDougall says.<\/p>\n Support your gut microbiome with these healthy habits<\/p>\n You might see ads that say probiotics can help with constipation, irregular\u00a0stool\u00a0and bloating. In these cases, should you look to probiotic supplements for a\u00a0possible fix?<\/p>\n \u201cIf I see a person with bloating and poor stool habits, I don’t immediately assume I need to fix their microbiome. I think they need to fix the habits that are causing their microbiome to go out of whack,\u201d Daniel-MacDougall says.<\/p>\n Instead of looking in the drugstore for a solution, try these tips.<\/p>\n Move your body<\/p>\n Aim for\u00a0150 minutes\u00a0of moderate\u00a0physical activity<\/a>\u00a0or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise each week to help lower your cancer risk.<\/p>\n Eat healthy foods<\/p>\n Eat a\u00a0healthy diet and\u00a0drink enough water<\/a>.<\/p>\n Along with probiotic foods, other\u00a0foods that promote gut health\u00a0include\u00a0fiber-filled options<\/a>.\u00a0Fiber is\u00a0a\u00a0prebiotic<\/a>\u00a0that\u00a0the helpful bacteria in your gut can\u00a0digest and use, Ajami explains.<\/p>\n So, focus on\u00a0eating a variety of healthy foods,\u00a0such as whole grains, vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts and seeds. The more colorful, the better.<\/p>\n Variety in your gut microbiome helps your gut respond to different conditions.\u00a0It\u2019s a lot like\u00a0a garden. If you only grow roses, a problem like a pest or a freeze could ruin your entire garden. But if you have many different types of plants, it\u2019s more likely some of your garden will survive.\u00a0The same\u00a0goes for\u00a0your gut microbiome, he explains.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you’re eating a lot of different types of foods, very colorful plates, usually you will have a colorful gut in terms of bacterial composition, and that is generally a good thing,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
\nRequire a\u00a0prescription
\nTreat specific medical conditions
\nGo through the same\u00a0FDA\u00a0regulations\u00a0as other medications<\/p>\n
\nKefir
\nSauerkraut
\nFermented fruits and vegetables<\/p>\n