What are Probiotics?
Probiotics
Probiotics are live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit to the host beyond inherent basic nutrition.
(Guarner and Schaafsma, 1998)
Synbiotics
Synergistic combinations of pro- and prebiotics are called synbiotics (de Vrese and Schrezenmeir, 2008).
The term is especially reserved for products in which the prebiotic compound(s) selectively favours the probiotic organism(s).
Prebiotics
A prebiotic is "a selectively fermented ingredient that allows specific changes, both in the composition and/or activity in the gastrointestinal microflora that confers benefits upon host well-being and health" (de Vrese and Schrezenmeir, 2008).
Benefits of Probiotics
Promotes Digestive Health 
Enhances ability to digest food 
Supports Immune System 
Plays a role in Vitamin B production 
Deters Growth of Bad Bacteria - Supports immune health 1
- Balances out the adverse effects of antibiotics, restores the balance of gut bacteria after antibiotic use 2
- Maintains healthy complexion 3
- Enhances ability to digest food 4
- Increases nutrient absorption from food 5
- Encourages normal digestive health, including promoting normal bowel movements 6
- Plays a role in Vitamin B production 7
- Heightens ability to absorb calcium 8
- Maldonado Galdeano C, Cazorla SI, Lemme Dumit JM, Vélez E, Perdigón G. Beneficial Effects of Probiotic Consumption on the Immune System. Ann Nutr Metab. 2019;74(2):115‐124.
- D’Souza Aloysius L., Rajkumar Chakravarthi, Cooke Jonathan, Bulpitt Christopher J. “Probiotics in prevention of antibiotic associated diarrhoea: meta-analysis.” BMJ (2002): 324-1361.c
- Al-Ghazzewi, F.h., and R.f. Tester. “Impact of prebiotics and probiotics on skin health.” Beneficial Microbes (2014): 99-107.
- Syngai, Gareth Gordon, et al. “Probiotics – the Versatile Functional Food Ingredients.” Journal of Food Science and Technology (2016): 921–933.
- Krajmalnik-Brown, Rosa, Zehra-Esra Ilhan, Dae-Wook Kang, and John K. Dibaise. “Effects of Gut Microbes on Nutrient Absorption and Energy Regulation.” Nutrition in Clinical Practice 27.2 (2012): 201-14.
- Sebastián domingo J.J. “Review of the role of probiotics in gastrointestinal diseases in adults.” Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2017 Jun – Jul; 40(6):417-429
- LeBlanc JG, Laiño JE, del Valle MJ, et al. B-group vitamin production by lactic acid bacteria–current knowledge and potential applications. J Appl Microbiol. 2011;111(6):1297‐1309.
- Parvaneh, K., Jamaluddin, R., Karimi, G., & Erfani, R. Effect of probiotics supplementation on bone mineral content and bone mass density. TheScientificWorldJournal (2014); 2014:595962.