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Probiotics.....overhyped?

Maybe. I must admit I think there may be particular benefits to fermented food, but the research is still inconclusive.

The study to investigate the potential benefits of probiotics in yogurt, a patient-oriented, double-blind, cluster-randomised, placebo-controlled, clinical trial

Conclusions: Consumption of a yogurt-based drink delivering 1010 CFU of Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis (B. lactis) BB-12 per day did not decrease the number of days missed of school due to an illness. Additional independent research on the potential of BB-12 to reduce illness in children needs to be conducted.
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Comments

Dave, RN said…
Well... I can tell you , I started taking a probiotic a couple of weeks ago. After about 4 days on it, I pooped all day. About 6 regular bowel movements. Lost 4 lbs!
So don't poo-poo probiotics 'till you try them.
July 7, 2010 at 6:00 PM
Anonymous said…
Hard to read much into that one. Only one strain of bacteria and no evidence that yoghurt is the best vehicle. And end marker - time off from school - isn't a good end point to be measuring with regard to probiotic efficacy. Maybe they were all vitamin D deficient?
July 7, 2010 at 9:35 PM
ramon25 said…
Well 1010 cfu is nothing! Supplements contain 5-50 BILLION cfu and the good ones are enteirc coated.... I love your blog chris but you got to get up on some supps knowledge man! ;)
July 10, 2010 at 1:44 AM
Billy Oblivion said…
To those advocating Pro-Biotics, any studies that disprove this one?

Seriously--science is fallibility, not anecdotes and hope.
July 20, 2010 at 12:39 PM
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