Though weight loss, a better digestive track, and reduced inflammation are claims that come with probiotics, these beneficial bacteria are not without their side effects and sensitivities.
MedicineNet.com reported that while people have used probiotics through history, scientists have not performed extensive studies on their risks. This is particularly true for young people, elderly individuals, and those who are sick.
Most side effects from probiotics result in mild disturbances, according to the website. They are typically associated with the digestive system. Examples include gassiness or bloating. In more severe cases it could cause infection, which can be treated by its opposite: antibiotics.
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Those with allergies to lactose may also develop diarrhea, upset stomach, and abdominal cramping,
Livestrong reported. Not all probiotics, however, have lactose. Other allergic reactions to probiotics include difficulty breathing, hives, and throat swelling. Less common symptoms of an allergic reaction are nasal congestion, lightheadedness, tightness in the chest, coughing, skin rashes, and feeling nauseated.
Berkeley Wellness reported that probiotics may overstimulate an individual’s immune system or harm metabolic pathways as well.
Those who are ill or have bowel problems should consult a doctor before taking probiotics, Berkeley Wellness noted. Pregnant women, young children, and older people should take them with caution, and premature babies should never receive probiotics.
In patients with pancreatitis, a higher death rate occurred in a study when drinking a probiotic blend of six active cultures,
the Global Healing Center reported. The immune system, weakened by the disease, mistakes the good bacteria of the probiotics as invaders and attacks them.
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Experimenting with dosage and brands of probiotics can challenge patients,
according to Everyday Health. The Food and Drug Administration does not regulate probiotics, labeling them a food supplement. Consumers must decipher between marketing announcements and reports to decide what will work for them.
“Because the quality and quantity of probiotics is not regulated by the FDA, it is difficult to accurately assess the effectiveness of one formulation against another,” Susan Lucak, gastroenterologist at Columbia University, told Everyday Health.
Those who take other medications should be careful before starting to use probiotics and consult their physician. Although no reactions between probiotics and other medicines are known currently,
according to Drugs.com, it is still possible for interactions to occur, and taking more than one supplement or medication should be done carefully.
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