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Probiotics: An Introduction

by Russell A. Faust, PhD, MD

I recently reviewed how our microbiome - the menagerie of living microorganisms living within us – and how the balance of our microbiome can affect our health and well-being in a couple articles here.

This article will briefly review the definitions of Probiotics and a couple other terms that you will want to be familiar with when you go to your supplement store.

The NEXT article in this series will review the question that is really on our minds: Do Probiotics Work?

First, some definitions:

Dysbiosis

The theory of microbial imbalance in our body. Until the strong scientific evidence for an interaction between our microbiome and our own physiology, this notion was considered bunk by conventional medicine.

This is where probiotics come in.

The goal of probiotics is to replace our beneficial microorganisms, and to displace the bad ones.

In other words, to re-balance the Dysbiosis toward Symbiosis.

Let’s clarify some more definitions, because this is a controversial area in medicine.

It is important to understand what the terms mean when you go out and read about probiotics, prebiotics, or synbiotics, and to make intelligent purchases if you consider using probiotics for your health or the health of your children.

Pro-biotic

The term probiotic is derived from the Greek meaning “for life”, is a term first used in 1965.

The World Health Organization defines Probiotics as “live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host.”

Pre-biotic

“Prebiotic” is “a non-digestible food ingredient that beneficially affects the host by selectively stimulating the growth, activity, or both of one of a limited number of bacterial species already resident in the colon,” a notion introduced in 1995 by Gibson and Roberfroid (J Nutrition vol 125: pg. 1401; 1995).

Syn-biotic

“Synbiotic” – not to be confused with syMbiotic – is simply the use of probiotics and prebiotics in combination.

When you go shopping – either online or at your local store – you will hear grandiose claims by those who are trying to SELL you probiotics.

The question is: Do probiotics work?

Check back here for the next installment of this series on Probiotics for the answer:

Probiotics: Do They Work? What Science Has To Say About Probiotics

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In the meantime, please leave a message and tell us whether you have used probiotics.

If so, what was your goal – what were you treating, if anything?

How did it go?

Which probiotics did you take?

We will all benefit by everyone sharing their experiences.

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Image Credit: MRSA, by Janice Haney Carr, CDC, Published in the Public Health Image Library

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Tags: bacteria, dysbiosis, immunity, microbiome, microorganisms, prebiotic, probiotics, symbiosis, synbiotic