More Applications of the Right Probiotics for the Right Condition

Probiotics don't just help digestive function. There is mounting scientific evidence that probiotics are helpful in a considerable range of health conditions.

• Weight loss. Wouldn't it be nice if bacteria could do the work of dieting for you? A study in Japan found that overweight adults taking a probiotic called Lactobacillus gasseri LG2055 lost 4.6 percent of their abdominal fat in 12 weeks while making no changes in diet or activity other than taking the probiotic. Despite the fact that this probiotic treatment has been promoted by Dr. Oz, it actually works. The problem for consumers outside of Japan is that the exact strain of Lactobacillus that encourages weight loss is not found in products available in other countries (the products recommended by Dr. Oz). Bayer Colon Health and Fortify Women's Probiotic contain a closely related strain, reliably pass product testing by consumer watchdog labs, and are available at relatively low cost. They may work, although the clinical trials refer to a specific strain of the bacterium.

• Gum disease can be treated with probiotic lozenges and chewing gums. Gingivitis is caused by an organism called Porphyromonas gingivalis, which is offset by the probiotic bacteria Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17398 and Lactobacillus reuterii ATC PTA5289. Bathing the gums in a mixture of saliva and the probiotic bacteria helps to shrink pockets of infection and improve attachment of the teeth, although these products have to be used over a period of months for a measurable benefit to result. These probiotics are packaged by a Swedish company for sale in the European Union under the brand name Prodentis. In North America the product is called PerioBalance.
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) with diarrhea also responds to the probiotic bacterium Bifidobacterium coagulans MTCC 5856. It doesn't cure IBS overnight, but after it is taken for about 90 days it reduces diarrhea, abdominal pain, bloating, vomiting, and (in the professional experience of the author, although it's not noted in the research report) acid reflux. This precise strain of bacteria is found in a product made by the Sabinsa corporation called Lactospore. In the United States, you will most often find Lactospore marketed as a weight loss aid, in products such as ProbioSlim. Selling the product for this purpose isn't really deceptive, because it helps reduce bloat, but American companies are limited by regulations about how much they can say about how a product treats IBS.

If you don't care to take supplements, you can always eat yogurt. However, yogurt without live cultures won't do you much good. (Your immune system can interact with dead probiotic bacteria in ways that reduce anxiety and depression.) You need living bacteria in your system for maximum benefit. If you have IBS, however, you may want to be careful with yogurt. Some products like Dannon Activia are helpful for IBS with constipation, but they are not helpful for IBS with diarrhea.

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It also makes sense to take some of these products proactively. Generally speaking, the more different kinds of probiotic bacteria you consume, the greater the protection you get. Garden of Life RAW Probiotic offers the greatest number of strains of any probiotic product readily available in North America and Europe.