“All probiotic products have the same effect”
There is a big difference between probiotic products. The effect of probiotics must be shown in clinical trials, i.e. studies on humans. Different strains of probiotics have different properties, resulting in different effects. Labels on many probiotic products state they contain Lactobacillus acidophilus without specifying whether it is Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5 or Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM – strains that are as different as an apple is from an orange.
“Lactic acid bacteria are probiotics”
There are many different types of lactic acid bacteria, including Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Bifidobacterium animalis, Streptococcus thermophilus, and Limosilactobacillus reuteri. It is important to note, however, that not all of them are probiotics. Lactic acid bacteria are divided into genus, species and strain. Different strains of bacteria have different characteristics, which, in turn, have different effects. Therefore, strain-level definitions are necessary for probiotics. Probiotics are beneficial microorganisms that have been shown to improve human health in clinical studies.
“Eating enough healthy foods will give me enough good bacteria for optimal gut health”
Consuming a variety of healthy food is important for gut health. However, there are different and distinct advantages to taking probiotic supplements. A bacterium is considered a probiotic when its health benefits are proven in clinical studies.
“Multi-strain products are more effective than single-strain probiotics”
A probiotic supplement’s effectiveness is not determined by the number of strains or bacteria it contains. It depends on which strains are present in the product. Some strains are more potent and a smaller number of bacteria cells are required for effect. Most multi-strain products are not clinically tested to determine which strains work in conjunction with one another. A probiotic product’s health benefits need to be proven in human trials.
“Prebiotics and probiotics are the same thing”
As defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), probiotics are live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host. In contrast, prebiotics are nondigestible ingredients that stimulate the growth of bacteria in the digestive system.
“Regardless of which probiotic I take, it has the same effect”
There are big differences between probiotic products. The health benefits of a probiotic need to be proven in clinical trials, i.e. studies on humans. The effects of different probiotic strains on the human body will vary because of their different properties.
“Probiotic capsules have a better effect than probiotic tablets or drops”
It doesn’t matter whether you take probiotic supplements as capsules, tablets, or drops. Human-origin probiotic bacteria such as L. reuteri Protectis generally survive better in the human gastrointestinal tract than bacteria that are not of human origin.
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What is Limosilactobacillus reuteri?
Limosilactobacillus reuteri is one of few bacteria that has co-evolved with humans since the beginning of time.
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Good bacteria we cannot live without
Probiotics are live bacteria that are proven to benefit our health by restoring the bacteria balance in the body and thereby have a positive effect on several health conditions.
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