Probiotics are bacteria or yeast organisms that may have beneficial effects on human physiology and health. Probiotic organisms are believed to work in part by enhancing digestion and immune function, by competing with pathogenic microorganisms for binding sites on mucosal surfaces, and by producing chemicals that inactivate or kill pathogens or have other desirable effects.
Probiotics appear to be useful for preventing or treating a wide range of health conditions, including constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, infantile colic, antibiotic-associated diarrhea, various types of infections, cirrhosis, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and vaginitis. This editorial provides some thoughts about how to use probiotics safely and effectively.
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