Q. Prebiotics? Probiotics? What is the difference? And what are the most important ingredients? There are so many companies making them that it is hard to know which one to take.
A. Prebiotics are complex carbohydrates that are consumed to provide nutritional support to intestinal microbes. Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that are sometimes used to treat gastrointestinal problems such as colic in infants or irritable bowel syndrome in adults.
The proliferation of products can indeed be confusing, particularly since they contain different strains and amounts of bacteria. ConsumerLab.com recently analyzed 41 probiotic supplements for both humans and their pets. There is a charge for the information, which you will find at ConsumerLab.com.
Different strains of bacteria may be especially useful for specific needs. For example, Saccharomyces cerevisiae (bakers’ yeast) and Saccharomyces boulardii seem to be helpful against Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea, usually following a course of antibiotic treatment. The picture is of Lactobacillus, often found in yogurt and sometimes used in an attempt to reduce the likelihood of common cold infections.
