Hyderabad: Probiotics are not like one-size-fits-all dresses. People buy them off the shelf but not all of them benefit from consumption of probiotics, according to research published in the journal Cell. With no regulations in place, the products are sold without monitoring.
Dr B. Ravi Shankar, chief of the department of gastroenterology and hepatology at Sunshine Hospitals, said the easy availability the live bacteria as an over-the-counter drug was a matter of concern. “There is no knowledge among the general public as to who will benefit with probiotics, how long they have to take it and their long-term side-effects with chronic use,” Dr Shankar said.
Research has shown that probiotics are required for the body but doctors said that it was needed only for those who have undergone aggressive treatment for a serious medical condition.
The use of probiotics as a preventive medicine is an area of debate. Recent research has shown that those who take probiotics without any medical condition may either retain it in the gut or not at all. All of them do not absorb probiotics equally. Those who absorb the probiotics may either be short of it, or it can be in excess in their body.
Long-term use of probiotics is associated with conditions like constipation, gas,bloating, headaches, increased histamine levels causing allergy, increased risk of infections due to damage of the intestinal gut barrier and gut microbiome. Excess use can damage the intestinal lining.
Dr Rakesh Kalapala, consultant gastroenterologist at Asian Institute of Gastroenterology, explained, “Damage to intestinal barrier by excessive use of probiotics is reversible but consumption should be stopped at the right time.”
He said Lactobacillus, Bifidobacteria and Saccharomyces are commonly used to reverse the damage caused by probiotics. They should be administered after proper examination, work up and diagnosis.
“It is very important to consult a doctor before taking probiotics. Those who have a diet with sufficient fibre do not require extra probiotics unless they have a medical condition and are on certain medications,” Dr Kalapala said.
