Bacteria
Probiotics
Probiotics are live microorganisms, mostly bacteria and yeasts, taken in fermented foods or supplements.
What should the label make clear?
Colony-forming units, or CFU, estimate viable organisms. NIH advises looking for counts through the end of shelf life; a higher number alone does not mean better effectiveness. 1
Are combined products better?
Synbiotics combine probiotics and prebiotics. In the chronic-constipation review, synbiotics did not improve stool output or overall symptom scores, so adding a prebiotic was not a demonstrated advantage there. 2
Forms
Entries in the library for specific forms of Probiotics. Each has its own ratings.
Sources
- Probiotics: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals NIH Office of Dietary Supplements