
“In conclusion, as for pharmaceutical industry it is clear that there are publication biases in probiotics related papers. Unlike pharma, where there are strict rules about disclosures of who’s funding a given study, it’s different with supplements. You and your doctor may only be seeing the studies the industry wants you to see.

The ones in red are believed to be missing. Based on this and some fancy statistics, they determined that an estimated 20 studies on probiotics in human gastrointestinal diseases were not published: This journal article featured a meta-analysis, which is basically a pooling of results from different studies, and then analyzing them as a whole. A study with a bad outcome may never be published, as if it never even took place. They may gloss over or simply not report the negative results. In order to please them, a study may be designed in a way that gives a ‘glass half-fill’ outcome.

Many studies are financially backed by food and supplement companies. Nature’s Way even sells a product called Reuteri Pearls.Īs discussed in the European Journal of Epidemiology, we probably aren’t hearing about all the possible reasons why probiotics are bad for you because they are being underreported. Many – perhaps even most – probiotic supplements contain the L. Human research has also found it to correlate with weight gain. It’s used as a growth promoter in baby piglets to boost their weight. Whenever there’s that much money on the line, you can bet Madison Avenue is keeping a tight grip on what you know… and what you don’t.įor example, no one tells you that Lactobacillus reuteri might make you fat. It’s projected that sales of probiotics will hit $64.6 billion by 2023. The industry as a whole is around $40 billion per year.
#Insync probiotic side effects tv#
You may recall the early days, when Jamie Lee Curtis was essentially having a poop party on TV to peddle the product. They may be small potatoes compared to prescription drugs, but make no mistake about it, these things to keep your gut healthy are big business.Īctivia alone is a multi-billion dollar brand.
#Insync probiotic side effects trial#
In a double-blind and placebo controlled trial involving 125 obese men and women, those using Lactobacillus rhamnosus supplements had statistically significant improvements in body weight and fat mass after 24 weeks. Weight loss has also been observed, particularly with Lactobacillus probiotics. In some cases, they may actually worsen the disease or condition they’re aimed at helping. Though to reiterate, while these uses do have some clinical data to back them, there isn’t enough to classify the benefits as proven. These suspected advantages are even discussed on the US government’s NIH website about probiotics. Colectomy-induced inflammation (pouchitis).Human clinical evidence has suggested potential benefits for: While not conclusively proven, there is a vast amount of research which suggests that probiotic supplements work, particularly those containing Lactobacillus and/or Bifidobacterium strains of bacteria. Overall, the customer base is heavily skewed female, which is why you typically women used for commercials and advertising.įor both women and men, it is true that these living microorganisms appear to offer health benefits for many. Are probiotics good for you?Īs a dietary supplement, probiotics are marketed for the prevention of gas and bloating, regular bowel movements, and the prevention of some intestinal disorders. Aside from natural sources like yogurt and sauerkraut, they’re even being added to foods like protein bars, tortilla chips, and even cookies.

With a feel-good name like that, it’s no wonder they’re dominating the supplement aisle.
