Probiotics, Yes! Probiotic Supplements, Not Necessarily

There’s much hype about the benefits of probiotic supplements, but what are they, and can they truly boost your health in a meaningful way? We asked three experts for advice.

- Dominique Bowen

Ask any gastro­intestinal expert whether we need probiotics, andthey’ll answer with a resounding ‘yes’; they’re key to our overall wellbeing.

Your gut is home to millions of microorganisms that, when healthy, exist in a state of balance. This balance is upheld by both ‘good’ and ‘bad’ bacteria coexisting in harmony as a microbiome. The ‘good’ bacteria – probiotics – promote this balance, so naturally you can enjoy the health benefits when you consume enough of them.

‘Probiotics work in a number of ways, such as changing the gut microbial composition to a healthy one and decreasing inflammation,’ says Dr Neo Seabi, a gastro­ enterologist at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital.

So, should we all be taking probiotic supplements?

Probiotics are undoubtedly good for you, but a long-standing misconception is that we need to consume them in capsule form to enjoy their benefits.

‘Probiotic supplements benefit those with particular problems of the gut, says Dr Tendai Machiridza, a gastroenterology fellow at the University of Cape Town. ‘However, no benefits have been demonstrated for use of probiotics in the absence of disease. Regular intake of probiotics has no established benefit in the healthy individual, and is unlikely to “boost” the immune system.’